1862.] BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 15^ 



ing, Grai'dner (Geo.), Ileysliam, Hawkins, Graham, Friedrichsthal, Forder, Fischer, 

 Achariiis, Coulter, De Lessert (Beuj.), and De Candolle (A. P.), 4s. 



9'J. Twelve ditto, viz., Rayer (J.), Gardiner (W.), Cameron, Bromfield, Drege, 

 Doublcday, De la Beehe, Fenzl, Bowman, Endlicher, Fischer, De Candolle, 3s. 6d. 



100. Twelve ditto, viz., Curtis (S.), De Lessert, Guthnick, De Candolle, 3«. 6d. 



101. Twelve ditto, viz., Bevan, Campbell, Fenzl, Drege, and eight others, 3*. 6d. 



Phallus impudicus. ' '=■■ 



In Yoflcs'K'i'fe 'iKVs^Wngus is called the " Devil's Stinkpot ^'an9 tliough 

 w€ cannot understand what the first word quoted can have to do with the 

 name of a plant, we may learn from it how great was the detestation in 

 which it was held by our forefathers, who were fond of applying the term 

 even to physical olijects which excited their abhorrence;* and we must 

 confess we know of no other British plant whose stench is so intolerable 

 as this. We forbear to say what its smell is like, lest we should offend, or 

 even inciir the risk of getting the specific name of the plant, at least in its 

 secondary sense, attached to our own signature. Suffice it to say, that 

 the smell of a heap of turnips in a state of putrefaction, is, in our estimar, 

 iion, fragrance, compared with that o^ Phallus impudlcm. -^.g 



One Saturday, as we were exploring a damp wood in search of FeraSji 

 our olfactory nerves were assailed by this awfid stench ; and though the 

 plants were at least ten yards from us, we had no difficulty in making our 

 way straight to the place where they grew, from the disgusting odour they 

 emitted. On arriving at the spot, we found a group of about a dozen, 

 scattered over a space a little more than three yards square. The thonglit 

 immediately struck us that it would be an amusing experiment to carry 

 home two or three plants in our vasculum, and set it on the table, to see 

 how quickly all the inmates of the house would make their exit. AVe were 

 wending our way homewards, in high glee, when two or three groups 

 of market people met us ; and, looking over our shoulder as they passed, 

 we found they were making wry faces. On looking back, we saw them 

 standing and eyeing us from head to loot, to sec what sort of* predicament 

 we were in, apparently wondering to se^ all right. We were determiued, 

 however, not to be beaten, and resolutely passed on; when, meeting some 

 more market folks who behaved in the same way, we were brought to a 

 dead stand. Suppose we should reach the town, we saw in imagination a 

 hundred little urchins, and as many dogs, following in our wake, the 

 former wondering what had befallen us ; therefore, coming to a bridge, 

 we threw the plants into the Don. This, however, did not mend the 

 matter, for we were obliged to pull up turfs of grass, with the dirt attached 

 to their roots, and scour out the vasculum before we dared to encounter 

 our fellow-creatures ; and, even after this had been done, we were called 

 upon to give an explanation as to where we had been, for our better half 

 turned up her nose at us. 

 MliThe economy of the Phallus is worth studying, for it is ciu'ious. One 



' * There is another well-known plant, called " Devil's Bit." About the name Gerarde 

 wrote the following, 726, ed. 1G36 : — " It (this plant) is commonly called Morsus 

 diaholi, or Diuels Bit, of the root (as it seems) that is bitten ofT. For the super- 

 stitious people hold ophiion that the diuel, for envy that he beareth to mankind, 

 bit it oil' because it would be otherwise good for many uses. It is called of i'"'«r7M-i»s 

 Succisa ; in high Dutch (Gorman) Teuffels abiss ; in low Dutch Duyuelles beet; 

 in^venc\\ Mors dio di.able ; in English Diuels Bit and Farebit." Cuscatahn,^ & 

 similar name: in, some old herbals it is called "D.evil's, G-rtp." 



