nearly akin to it) was used for food. De Theis derives it 

 from the Greek T * ? a<r<ra., to move, or trouble. 



Leontodon taraxacum, or common Dandelion, is escu- 

 lent its leaves, when blanched, have the taste of endive, 

 and, boiled, in their green state, is an excellent and whole- 

 some vegetable. At Gottingen, the roots are roasted, and 

 substituted for coffee. 



The leaves, roots, flowers, and juice of dandelion, have 

 all been employed for medicinal purposes. 



It is one of the plants that may be most certainly de- 

 pended on as to the hour of opening and closing its flowers. 

 Flora's best time-piece. The flowers of this habit are styled 

 by Linnaeus the Horologne, or watch of Flora. 



" Leontodons unfold, 



On the swarth turf, their ray -encircled gold; 

 With Sol's expanding beam the flowers unclose. 

 And rising Hesper lights them to repose." 



She, enamoured of the sun, 

 At his departure hangs her head and weeps, 

 And shrouds her sweetness up, and keeps 



Sad vigils like a cloistered nun, 



'Till his reviving ray appears, 

 Waking her beauty, as he dries her tears. Moore. 



Thus in each flower and simple bell, 



That in our path betrodden lie, 

 Are sweet remembrancers, who tell 



How fast their winged moments fly. 



Charlotte Smith. 



The dandelion blooms early in the spring, and continues 

 throughout the summer. 



" Nor yet alone to full-robed spring confined, 

 Around her brow the crown of flame they bind, 

 But scattered still o'er summer's tawny vest, 

 Their lingering sweets regale the insect guest." 



The Dandelion, has terminal, golden-coloured flowers. 

 A double calyx, imbricated, oblong. Corolla, compound, 

 imbricated, uniform; florets numerous, equal, each of one 

 petal, with five teeth. Receptacle naked, dotted. Down 

 stalked, hairy. Leaves radical, toothed, smooth. 



DEW PLANT. 



Mezembryanthemum. 

 (See Ice Plant.) 



There are more than fifty Fig Marygolds, or Mezem- 

 bryanthemums, cultivated. Some of them have less of the 

 frosted appearance noticed in the Ice plant and are called 

 Dew plants appearing moist, and cool, as if wet with dew. 



The JVf. Barbatus, Trailing Bearded Fig Marygold, is 

 one of those most common in green-houses, and even in the 

 garret window of many an humble collector. It throws out 

 its trailing stems over the flower-pot, bearing a very small 

 bright reddish purple Jlower. Leaves remote, somewhat 

 ovate, tumid, flattish above. Branches smooth, slender, 



straggling. Calyx, five cleft. Petals numerous, linear, co- 

 hering at the base. 



The JVf. Hispidum, is another of the Dew plants. 

 Leaves cylindrical, blunt. Branches hairy. Flowers larger 

 than the last, and of the same colour. 



It will be observed that no particular species has been 

 designated, thereby giving a wider field for selection, when 

 the plant is to be used. 



DOGWOOD. 

 Cornus. 



Cornus, from the Greek x? via, so called from the 

 horny toughness of the wood. 



Ainsworth defines Cornus, 1. The cornel tree, called 

 the dog-tree, or wild cherry. 



Johnson Dogwood, a species of cornelian cherry. 



There are several varieties indigenous in North Ameri- 

 ca. That designated as belonging to Virginia C. florida, or 

 Virginia Dogwood, grows to the height of from ten to twenty 

 feet. Leaves opposite, egg-shaped, acuminate, green above, 

 glaucous beneath, petioled. Flowers small, yellow; leaves of 

 the involucre two inches broad or more, greenish white, some- 

 times rose-coloured, resembling petals, a little tomentous, 

 ending in a short point, and appearing as if nipped almost 

 double near the tip, which makes them seem emarginate and 

 heart-shaped; peduncles one-flowered, forming close lateral 

 and terminal umbels. 



EGLANTINE, English. EGLANTERIA, Latin. 

 European Sweet-Briar. 



Rosa rubiginosa. 

 (For Rosa, see Austrian Rose.) 



" Eglanteria, corrupted from the French Eglentier, or 

 Eglantier, of whose derivation we are ignorant. 



Lamarck's Flora Fran$oise, has been examined in vain, 

 for the derivation, or meaning of the word Eglantier. And 

 we perceive that he has taken the orange coloured variety of 

 Rosa lutea, or Austrian Rose, for Linnxus' rubiginosa, or 

 European Sweet Briar. 



We retain the name of Rosa rubiginosa for our Euro- 

 pean Sweet Briar, as being indisputably certain, peculiarly 

 expressive, and now sanctioned by Jacquin, Roth, Willde- 

 now, indeed, by general use." Rees' Enc. 



Skinner, who has just been examined, offers the follow- 

 ing etymology: "Eglantine, Belgic Eghelentier, Franco. 

 Gallic, Esglantier, Jliglantier, Jlnglantine, Cynosbatus, [the 

 eglantine] the wild rose. J\linshei*$ I know not how well, 

 derives it from the Latin and Greek, Echinus, (an urchin, 

 or hedge-hog: a sea-urchin, being a kind of crab-fish, with 

 prickles instead of feet: also the rough prickly shells of ches- 

 nuts) because it is thorny. I prefer, rather, to derive it from 

 the Latin *1cidcus, (a prickle, as in thorns, herbs, burs, hedge- 

 hogs, &c.) as it were, Jlculeantinus (prickly) for it is defend- 

 ed by many thorns. It may also be speciously derived from 

 the Belgic Eghel, a hedge-hog; but it returns to the same 

 point, for this undoubtedly takes its rise from the Latin, JLcu- 

 leus (a prickle, 8tc.) and this animal is, in truth, furnished by 

 nature with prickles." 



Lemon, after quoting, in part, this etymology of Skin- 



-4. 



