OF BRITISH PLANTS. 23 



BITTER-SWEET, L. Amara-dukis, from the rind of its 

 stalk, which, as Turner observes b. iii. 2, " when it is first 

 tasted is bitter, and afterwards sweet," a quality from which 

 it gets its German name; je lengerje lieber. 



Solanum Dulcamara, L. 



also an apple so called, of which Gower says 

 (ed. 1554, fol. 174) : 



For all such time of love is lore, 



And like unto the bittersuete, 



For though it thinke a man fyrst suete, 



He shall well felen atte laste, 



That it is sower, and maie not laste. 



Pyrus Malus, L. var. 



BITTER VETCH, Vicia Orobus D.C. 



BITTER-WORT, from the taste of the root, a name adopted 

 from the German bitterwurtz, Gentiana, L. 



BLACKBERRY, from the black colour of its fruit in con- 

 trast with that of the raspberry and dewberry, 



Rubus fruticosus, L. 



BLACK-BENT, -Coucn, or -SQTJITCH, from its weedy 

 character and dark purple flowers, the slender foxtail, 



Alopecurus agrestis, L. 



BLACK BINDWEED, from its want of the conspicuous 

 white flowers of the other bind-weeds, 



Polygonum Convolvulus, L. 



BLACK BRYONY, from its dark-coloured glossy leaves, 

 and black root, Tamus communis, L. 



BLACK HOREHOUND, from its dingy colour in contrast 

 with the white-leaved true horehound, Ballota nigra, L. 

 BLACK SALTWORT, in contrast with the Salsola, 



Glaux maritima, L. 



BLACK-SEED, the nonesuch, from its black head of 

 legumes in contrast with the light yellow capitules of the 

 hop-clover, Medicago lupulina, L. 



BLACKTHORN, the sloe, from the conspicuous blackness 



