THE STORY OF THE WILD FLOWEES. 13 



about which I shall have something to say by-and-bye ; 

 for not only had they special flowers for Easter, "Whit- 

 suntide, and Christmas, but for nearly every saint's 

 day as well. There was a reverent love mixed up with 

 these customs. We can trace it in the somewhat fanciful 

 names given to plants according to their supposed 

 peculiarities. Thus the Scabious (Scabiosa succisa) 

 was called " Devil's-bit," from its peculiar root, which 

 was said to have been bitten by the Evil One. The 

 lesser Celandine (Ficaria ranunculoides) , one of the 

 most modest and beautiful of the buttercup tribe, was 

 named "Pilewort," from its tuberous roots. Even 

 now it is used as a remedy for a very painful disease. 

 In Cochin China it is esteemed as a medicine, and in 

 Sweden and Norway its leaves are used as a table 

 vegetable. The Foxglove, or "fairy bells," is another 

 instance of a quaint fancy. The Pennywort (Coty- 

 ledon umbilicus) and a thousand others might be given 

 aB examples of that strange mixture of quaint conceit, 

 poetic fancy, and close observation which distinguished 

 our forefathers. 



Some of the names speak of bygone dainties. How 

 expressive is the term "Poor man's pepper," and 

 " Sauce alone ! " Salad Burnet, Corn Salad, Hedge 



