1862.] BOTANICAL NOTKSj NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 93 



foot of Mount Fusi Yama; another species not seen in flower. 

 Wisteria sinensis, rambling throughout the woods.- Woodivardia 

 japonica, on slopes of Mount Hakone. — From the ' Gardeners' 

 Chronicle' 



BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 



Botanical Notes for Malvern. 



In the ' Phytologist ' for September last, the writer of this article ob- 

 serves, that the Ranimculiis Ficaria (Pilewort or Lesser Celandine) was the 

 " Cuckoo-bud " of Shakspere, noticed in the song (" Love's Labour's lost," 

 Act 5, Scene 2) : — 



And Cuckoo-bi\ds of yellow hue 



Do paint the meadows with delight. 



I quite agree with this, although I believe that not one of the commenta- 

 tors on Shakspere sa^fs so; and I would also observe that this flower, before 

 it expands with the sun's heat, is like a bud closed. As I look to the pages 

 of the ' Phytologist ' for information, I should feel obliged if the writer of 

 this article would inform me whether the Ranunculus Ficaria is called 

 Cuckoo-bud in any book of an early date. The Orchis mascula is cer- 

 tainly a vernal flower and truly called early pir pie Orchis. It is, I doubt 

 not, the Jlowf'V Shakspere intended by Long Purples, which the young and 

 beautiful Ophelia gathered to add to her fantastic garland ; but will the 

 writer kindly tell me if he knows whether the Orchis mascula was called 

 I>ead men s fingers by the cold maids of Warwickshire in the time of 

 Shakspere, or whether it is now so called? As the Orchis mascula has not a 

 palniated root, how Can it be compared to dead men's fino'crs ? I have seen 

 Lijthrum Salicaria (purple Loose-strife) called Long Purples, and I think it 

 is so called in a Glossary of Northamptonshire ; but I cannot believe that 

 Shakspere referred to this, as it is not a flovv'er of the Spring. Ophelia 

 also added to her garland Nettles and Daisies, but the writer of ' Malvern 

 Notes' says, dead Nettles. Is this intended for an emendation of Shak- 

 spere ? As to Ophelia being demented according to the opinion of some, I 

 rather take that of Dr. Johnson, who calls it ' the mournful distraction of 

 Ophelia.' S. B. 



Hen-and-Chicken Daisy. 



A proliferous variety of the common Daisy, Bellis perennis. VYe are 

 all pretty well acquaintecrvvrtli that curious state of the cultivated garden 

 Daisy, which is known as the Hen and Chicken Daisy. But I confess 

 Lwas surpriscfl to learn from our valued friend John Jones, the clerk of 

 this parish, that he has met with a similar slate of the wild Bellis perennis 

 in this immediate neighbourhood. He gathered the specimen, which I 

 have here enclosed for your acceptance, in 1851, in a field called Cae 

 ffynnon, upon the farin Maes Hen Bias. This farm is situated a short 

 distance north of the village ; but this remarkable state of the plant has 



