216 POPULAR NAMES 



large pendants, or drops, that were worn by the ladies in 

 the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, both as ear-rings 

 and hangings to their brooches, and which we see so often 

 represented by the Dutch and Italian painters of that 

 period. Galanthus nivalis, L. 



SNOW-FLAKE, a name invented by W. Curtis to dis- 

 tinguish it from the snow-drop, Leucojum sestivum, L. 



SOAPWORT, from its being used in scouring (Ger. p. 360), 

 and frothing in the hands like soap, says Brunschwygk, 



Saponaria officinalis, L. 



SOLDIER-ORCHIS, from a fancied resemblance in it to a 

 soldier, Orchis militaris, L. 



SOLOMON'S SEAL, from the flat round scars on the root- 

 stock, resembling what is called a Solomon's seal, a name 

 given by the Arabs to a six-pointed star, formed by two 

 equilateral triangles intersecting each other, and of frequent 

 occurrence in Oriental tales, 



Convallaria Polygonatum, L. 



SOPS-IN-WINE, from the flowers being used to flavour 

 wine. Chaucer says of it, writing in Edw. Ill's reign : 

 "There springen herbes grete and smal, 

 The licoris and setewale, 

 And many a clove gilofre, 

 To put in ale, 



Whether it be moist or stale." C.T. 1. 13690. 

 The plant intended was the clove-pink, -gilofre, or -gilli- 

 flower, Dianthus Caryophyllus, L. 



SORB, L. sorbus, from sorbeo, drink down, in allusion to 

 a beverage made from the fruit. See SERVICE-TREE. A 

 name formerly given to Pyrus domestica, L. 



at present to Pyrus torminalis, L. 



SORREL, Fr. surelle, a dim. derived from L. Germ, suur, 

 sour, from the acidity of the leaves, Rumex Acetosa, L. 

 SHEEP'S-, Rumex Acetosella, L. 



WOOD-, Oxalis Acetosella, L. 



