Plant Names 295 



labelled, French Gentian. To hear a lovely bunch 

 of the Arethusa called Swamp Pink is not so 

 strange. The Sabbatia grows in its greatest profu- 

 sion in the vicinity of Plymouth, Massachusetts, 

 and is called locally, " The Rose of Plymouth." 

 It is sold during its season of bloom in the streets 

 of that town and is used to dress the churches. Its 

 name was given to honor an early botanist, Tibera- 

 tus Sabbatia, but in Plymouth there is an almost 

 universal belief that it was named because the Pil- 

 grims of 1620 first saw the flower on the Sabbath 

 day. It thus is regarded as a religious emblem, and 

 strong objection is made to mingling other flowers 

 with it in church decoration. This legend was 

 invented about thirty years ago by a man whose 

 name is still remembered as well as his work. 



