BOTANICAL NAMES 37 



leaves were those used for the wreaths given to 

 winners in a contest. 



Reaksedge (bek-sed-ge). Eng. translation of Rhyn- 

 chospora (which see). Bot. name of group of the 

 Sedge family of Grasses. 



Beam (b-em). A.S. " Beam " (a tree). Is the Eng. 

 name for Pyrus Aria. 



Bearberry (bear-ber-ri). Eng. translation of Arcto- 

 staphylos (which see). Bot. name of a group of the 

 Heath family. 



Beard Grass. Eng. translation of part (pogon) of its 

 bot. name. 



Bear's-Foot. Another name for Green Hellebore. 



Becca-Bunga (bek-a-bun-ja). Flemish. " Mouth- 

 smart "; because of the pungency of the leaf. 

 Second bot. name for Brooklime. 



Bedegar (bed-e-gar). Persian name for a spongy 

 excrescence found on rose bushes, caused by the 

 puncture of a small insect. 



Bed-Straw. Eng. name for Galium verum. Said to 

 have been the straw in the manger where the 

 Saviour was born. The common expression 

 " being in straw," as applied to women when con- 

 fined, is said to be due to the use of the plant as 

 their bedding. So " they " say. 



Beech. A.S. " Bece " (the name for the tree). Our 

 word " book." 



Begonia (be-go-ni-a). Named after Begon, a French 

 botanist. 



Belladonna (bel-la-don-na). Italian. "Bella" (pretty) ; 

 " donna " (lady) ; refers to the use of the plant by 

 ladies for enlarging the pupil of the eye and 



