44 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES BEAR's EAR 



carouse, and in Sweden, Eussia, and America for "bears. The 

 whole plant is astringent, and is used for tanning and dyeing. 



Bear's Ear, a common English name for two distinct plants. 

 First, the Auricula (which see). Second, Saxifraga sarmeniosa, 

 an evergreen herb of the Saxifrage family (Saxifragacese), native 

 of China, introduced more than a hundred years ago. It derives 

 its specific name sarmentosa from its producing long running 

 stems on the ground, emitting oblong, roundish, serrated leaves at 

 regular distances. It has become a favourite window pot 

 plant. Wlien placed in an elevated position the stems grow 

 freely pendulous in the air, often a yard in length; producing 

 the leaves at regular distances, and being above one another, the 

 plant has been likened to sailors manning the rigging of a ship, 

 and is called the Sailor Plant. 



Bear's Grass. {See Adam's Needle.) 



Beaver Tree. {See Magnoha.) 



Bebeeni. {See Greenheart.) 



Beech, Common {Fagus sylvatica), a lofty tree of the Oak 

 family (Cupuliferse), forming extensive forests in Armenia and 

 the regions of the Caucasus, and also throughout the temperate 

 countries of Europe. It is generally understood to be a native 

 of this Country, but some writers make out that it was not 

 known before the Norman Conquest. It is common in our own 

 woods, and is an ornamental tree when standing alone, attaining 

 the height of 50 to 60 feet, and diameter of 3 to 4 feet, forming a 

 round head of branches ; the extreme ones being twiggy and 

 drooping, often reaching the ground, and being thickly covered 

 with simple, smooth, shining leaves, produces a dense shade in 

 summer. Loudon calls the tree the Hercules and Adonis of our 

 woods. Its timber, although not of great strength, is neverthe- 

 less of fine grain, smooth, and is employed for many domestic 

 purposes, as for turnery and joinery, especially for bedsteads, 

 chairs, etc. Its fruit is a three -sided, three -valved capsule, 

 containing several triangular nuts called Mast. These nuts 

 are a favourite food of hogs, and contain a useful oil, which is 

 largely used as a salad oil in Germany. There are several 



