KNOTGRASS 231 



Like other Goosefoots it is infested in summer by several bugs, 

 e.g. 4 Heteroptera, Piasina quadrata, Lopus sulcatus, Calacoris cheno- 

 podn, Orthotylus flavosparsus, and a Homopterous insect, Trioza 

 chenopodii. 



The name Bonus-Henricus, Fuchs, is a translation of Guter Hein- 

 rich, or Good Henry, given it by the Germans. 



This plant is called All-good, Elite, Smear Dock, Flowery Docken, 

 Mercury Docken, Fat Hen, Good Henry, Good King Harry, Mar- 

 kerry, Mercury, English, False and Wild Mercury, More Smere- 

 wort, The Roman Plant, Shoemakers' Heels, Smiddy Leaves, Wild 

 Spinach. 



Markerry was " used as a Spinach and always called Markerry ". 

 In Flowery Docken, probably "flowery" is intended from the mealy 

 leaves. In regard to the name False Mercury, Gerarde says: "It is 

 taken for a kinde of Mercuric but improperly, for that it hath no 

 participation with mercuric, either in forme or qualitie, except yee will 

 call every herbe mercuric which hath power to loose the bellie ". " It 

 is a common proverbe among the people, Be thou sick or whole, put 

 mercurie in thy Koale ". The name Smear-wort refers to its use as an 

 ointment. Smiddy Leaves " indicates the observation of one of its 

 favourite habitations, viz. the nigh vicinity of the blacksmith's work- 

 shop ". 



It was formerly used for wounds and to cleanse old ulcers. It has 

 been and is still used as a Spinach, until the foreign variety was 

 introduced. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



265. Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus, L. Stem erect, leafy, simple, 

 leaves sagittate, entire, triangular, mealy, flowers in terminal spikes, 

 stigmas long, fruit exceeding the perianth. 



Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare, L.) 



This ancient species is found in Interglacial beds in Hants and 

 Sussex, Late Glacial, Neolithic beds at Edinburgh, Roman beds at 

 Silchester. It is found to-day in Arctic and Temperate Europe, 

 N. and W. Asia, and has been introduced into North America. It is 

 found in every county except Main Argyle, as far north as the Shet- 

 lands; up to 1800 ft. in Northumberland. It grows in Ireland and the 

 Channel Islands. 



There is scarcely a gateway in close proximity to a barn or out- 

 house, in a field, or attached to a farmhouse or ordinary dwelling. 



