INTRODUCTION. Ixxi 



lias been formed by the composition of the 

 two words Hibiscus and Malva, through the 

 intermediate stages of medieval Latin bis- 

 malva and the old French vimauve. The 

 identification of Morella with Solanum 

 nigrum, is confirmed by the fact that this 

 plant is called Morella in Italian and 

 Morelle in French. 



3. Like testimony of popular English, 

 Of the same kind are the cases where the 

 English popular name is a continuation of 

 the Latin tradition: Betonica betony, 

 Buxus box, Camemelon camomile, Cen- 

 taurea centaury, Papaver poppy, Pirus 

 pear, Petroselinum parsley, Rosa rose, 

 Viola violet. 



6. DESCRIPTIVENESS IN THE NAMES. Thus 

 * Trifolium geaces sure ' is recognised by 

 the implied description of a plant with a 

 trefoil leaf, a sour taste, and flowering in 

 the season of the cuckoo, as being no other 

 than Oxalis Acetosella, Wood Sorrell. 



7. MEDICINAL USES lend confirmation 

 sometimes. Thus, 'magej>e' is Came- 

 melon, Anthemis nobilis, Camomile ; but 

 when we meet with such glosses as ' Obtal- 



