BOTANICAL NAMES 175 



meaning- of such compound word see second part 



of the compound word under its own initial letter. 

 Ptarmica (tar-mik-a). G. " Ptarmos " (sneezing) ; the 



dried leaves were used as snuff. Second bot. name. 

 Pteris (te-ris). G. name for a Fern, from " petron " (a 



feather) ; because the leaf is feather-like. Bot. 



name of group. 

 Pubens (pu-bens). 

 Puberula (pu-ber-u-la). 

 Pubescent (pu-bes-ent). 

 Pubigera (pu-bij-er-a). All arc second bot. names, with 



shades of difference in their meanings, derived 



from L. " puber " (puberty); i.e., clothed with soft 



hair or down. 

 Pulegium (pu-lej-i-um). L. name for Penny Royal, 



from L. ** pulex " (a flea); the plant was said to 



destroy fleas. Second bot. name. 

 Pulchella (pulkel-a). L. dim. of " pulcher " (beautiful). 



Second bot. name. 

 Pulcher (pul-ker). 

 Pulchrum (pul-krum). L. adj., " beautiful." Second 



bot. names. 

 Pulicaria (pul-i-kar-ia). L. name for plant, from L. 



" pulex " (a flea). Second bot. name for Small 



Fleabane. 

 Pulla (pul-a). L. adj., " dark coloured." Second bot. 



name. 

 Pulmonaria (pul-mon-ar-i-a). L. " Pulmo " (the 



lung) ; formerly a remedy for lung disease, because, 



according to the law of signatures, the spots on 



the leaves were supposed to represent diseased 



lungs. Bot. name Lungwort group. 



