INTRODUCTION. Ixxi 



lias been formed by tbe composition of the 

 two words Hibiscus and Malva, throuo-h the 

 intermediate stages of medieval Latin his- 

 malva and the old French vimauve. The 

 identification of Morella with Solanum 

 nigrum, is confirmed by the fact that this 

 ])lant is called Morella in Italian and 

 Morelle in French. 



§ 3. Like testimony of popular English, 

 Of the same kind are the cases where the 

 English popular name is a continuation of 

 the Latin tradition : — Betonica betony, 

 Buxus box, Caniemelon camomile, Cen- 

 taurea centaury, Papaver poppy. Pirns 

 pear, Petroselinum parsley, Rosa rose, 

 Viola violet. 



6. Descriptiveness in the names. Thus 

 ' Trifolium geaces sure ' is recognised by 

 the implied description of a plant with a 

 trefoil leaf, a sour taste, and flowering in 

 the season of the cuckoo, as being no other 

 than Oxalis Acetosella, Wood Sorrell. 



7. Medicinal uses lend confirmation 

 sometimes. Thus, 'magej^e' is Came- 

 mclon, Anthemis nobiHs, Camomile ; but 

 when we meet with such glosses as ' Ohtal- 



