2 TRADESCANTIA VIRGINICA. SPIDERWORT. 



to be poisonous, and the same name, and also Phalangites, was 

 given to an herb which would cure the spider's sting. Those 

 who have made spiders a subject of special study, notably the 

 Rev. Dr. McCook, believe that there is more dramatic poetry 

 than honest prose in poisonous spider stories, and that the 

 majority of spiders are entirely innocuous, while the few which 

 may be venomous are but slightly so. They have, of course, no 

 slings, but articulated jaws, by which, if at all, they misbehave 

 themselves. However, we are but dealing with the past. The 

 ancients believed there were those who were stung, and that 

 their PJialangites was the remedy. We are told that "the roots 

 being tun'd up with new ale and drunk for a month together, it 

 expels poison, yea tho'it be universally spread through the whole 

 body. 1 ' This must, however, have reference to some other plant 

 to which the same name was applied, apparently a sort of lily 

 allied to Anther ienm, with which, in the then condition of 

 knowledge, the Tradescantia Virginica was wrongly associated. 

 But it fully accounts for the English name " Spiderwort," wort 

 being the old Saxon name for " plant." Our true Tradcscantias 

 are not known to possess any medicinal virtues. 



The French common name of the plant is Ephcmcrine dc 

 Virginie, taken, as we may readily see, from the early Latin 

 name given it by the English authors. In many parts of our 

 country it has received the name of "Starflower," and even (in 

 Minnesota for instance) "Star of Bethlehem"; but as these names 

 are not only inappropriate, but are also applied to so many other 

 flowers, it is best that they should be dropped for "Spiderwort." 

 The French Ephemerine is a very good name, for the flowers 

 remain open but a single day, although there are others ready 

 to take their places in long succession. The poetic' sentiments 

 associated with flowers are often far-fetched, but as emblematic 

 of "transient happiness" the "Spiderwort" is appropriate. Says 

 Byron, — 



"There comes 



Forever something between us and what 



We deem our happiness," 



