BOTANICAL NAMES 49 



Bursa-Pastores (bur-sa-pas-tor-is). A rendering in Latin 

 of the common name "Shepherd's Purse"; the 

 shape of the seed pods being- like the old-fashioned 

 bag-purse ; from the L. ' * bursa ' ' (a purse) ; * ' pas- 

 toris " (of a shepherd). 



Bush. Is a low shrub, much branched from near the 

 roots. 



Butcher's Broom. Is the common name for Ruscus ; 

 is also called Knee Holly. Said to be called But- 

 cher's Broom because the butchers used it to sweep 

 their blocks. Sometimes known as Jews' Myrtle, 

 because it is sold for use during the Feast of Taber- 

 nacles. 



Butome. Eng. rendering of Butomus. 



Butomus (bu-to-mus). G. " Bou '' (an ox) ; " tenno " 

 (to cut) ; because the sharp edge of the leaf cuts 

 the mouth of cattle. Bot. name for Butome group. 



Butter Bur. Common name for one of the Colt's Foots. 



Butter Cup. The common name for several Ranun- 

 culus, and given because of the bright yellow and 

 shape of the flowers. 



Butter Wort. Common name for Pengicula group, 

 insectivorous, marsh plants. Gets the name butter 

 from the greasy feel of the leaves. To make a 

 kind of cream cheese, Laplanders put the leaves 

 into the reindeer milk. The leaves do not act in 

 the same way in cow's milk. 



Buxus (buks-us). G. " Pyxos " (name for the Box}. 

 Bot. name for Box group. 



Buxhaumii (buks-hau-mi. After Buxhaum, a botanist, 

 who lived about 1727. 



Byssus (bis-sus). L. name for Flax ; is the silky tufts 

 of mould growing on damp decaying substances. 



