OF BRITISH PLANTS. 241 



TWOPENNY-GRASS, so called by Turner from its pairs of 

 round leaves " standyng together of ech syde of the stalke 

 lyke pence," Lysimachia Nummularia, L. 



UNSHOE-THE-HORSE, It. sferra-cavallo, from its horse- 

 shoe-shaped legumes being, upon the doctrine of signatures, 

 supposed to have that power. " Wann die Pferde auf der 

 Weide gehen, und sie auf diess kraut oft treten, fallen 

 ihnen die Hufeisen bisweilen ab." Tabernsem. ii. p. 230. 



Hippocrepis comosa, L. 



also the moonwort, of which Du Bartas 

 says, p. 79, ed. 1611 : 



" Horses that feeding on the grassie hills, 

 Tread upon Moonwort with their hollow heels, 

 Though lately shod, at night go barefoot home." 



Botrychium Lunaria, Sw. 



UPSTART, the meadow saffron, from its flowers starting 

 up suddenly from the ground, without putting out leaves 

 first, Colchicum autumnale, L. 



VALERIAN, L. valeriana, a name of uncertain origin, 

 Valeriana officinalis, L. 



VELVET-DOCK, the mullein, from its large soft leaves, 

 Verbascum Thapsus, L. 



VELVET-FLOWER, the love-lies-bleeding, from its crimson 

 velvety tassels, Amaranthus caudatus, L. 



VELVET-LEAP, Lavatera arborea, L. 



VENUS'-BASON, L. Veneris labrum, Gr. lA.<^po^tr^ \ovrpov, 

 the teasel, so named after the goddess of beauty, from the 

 hollows formed by the united bases of the leaves being 

 usually filled with water, that was used, says Ray, "ad 

 verrucas abigendas," to remove warts and freckles, 



Dipsacus sylvestris, L. 



VENUS'-COMB, from the slender tapering beaks of the 

 seed-vessels being set together like the teeth of a comb, 



Scandix Pecten, L. 



16 



