BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE. 433 



Myosotis. Forget-me-not. The ancient classical name. From Gr uir a 

 mouse, oif, irof, the ear. From the short and soft leaves in some 

 species. 



Myrica. Wax myrtle. Bayberry. From Gr. ^,,„„,, ancient name uf tl>c 



tamarisk. 

 Myristica. Nutmeg. From Gr. fivpl^u, to be fragrant. 

 Myrrha. Myrrh. Ancient classical name for the balsamic juice of the 



Arabian myrtle. 

 Myrtus. Myrtle tree. The ancient classical name. 

 Napa^a. Glade mallow. From Gr. vdm^, a woody dell. 

 Napellus. Little turnip. Diminutive of Lat. napus, a turnip 

 Narcissus. The ancient Greek name. From mpx,, numbness, because of 

 Its narcotic properties. Or, according to others, from Narcissus a 

 youth, who according to a myth was changed into this flower 

 Nardus. Spikenard. The ancient Greek name. 



Nectandra. Bebeeru. Pichury beans. From Gr. .^..„. „cctar, + .„.;}„ 

 man, nectar stamen. * 



Nelumbo. Sacred bean. Lotus lily. From vernacular, Ceylon. 

 Nepeta. Catnip. Cat mint. The ancient Latin name. • 

 Neslia. Ball mustard. Named for J. A. N. de Nesle. French botanist 

 Nicotiana. Tobacco. Named for Jean Nicot, a French diplomat, who 



was thought to have introduced tobacco into Europe (1530-1600) 

 Nigella. ^ Fennel flower. Diminutive of Lat. nigcr, black, from the color 



of tHe seeds. 

 Niger-gra-grum. Black, dark. 

 Nobilis-e. Famous, noted, well-born. 

 Nux-vomica. Lat. nux, a nut, and vomo, to vomit. 

 Nymphaea. Yellow pond lily. Ancient Greek name for the water lily. 



which was dedicated to the water nymphs. 

 Nyssa. Tupelo. Pepperidge. The Latin name of a water nymph, nurse 

 of Bacchus ; because the original species of the plant grows in water. 

 Obtusifolius-a-um. Having leaves "blunted or rounded at the end. Lat. 



obfusHs, blunted, + folium, leaf. 

 Occidentalis-e. Occidental. Western. 



Odontorhizon. Crawley-root. From Gr. 66m'c, a tooth. + pfCn, a root. 

 Odoratus-a-um. Emitting a smell, especially sweet-smelling, fragrant. 

 CEnothera. Evening primrose. An ancient Greek name of a plant. 

 Officinalis-e. Pertaining to the shop. From Lat. oflicina, a workshop. 

 Oleaceae. Olive family. From Lat. olca. olive tree. 

 Oleum. Gr. Diaiov, olive oil ; hence oil. 

 Onoclea. Sensitive fern. Ancient Greek name of a plant. 

 Operculina. Turpeth root. Probably from Lat. operculum, a covering. 

 Opium. Gr. hTTiov^ poppy juice. 



