Vol. III.] PREFACE. V 



names commonly used by pharmacists, druggists, horticulturists and plant-collectors, or 

 likely to be met with in botanical or current literature.* 



No similar compilation of American plant-names has been hitherto published. Many 

 of them are not to be found in any general dictionaries. To the mass of the people, this 

 Index, in connection with the references to the illustrations, will afford the readiest means 

 of plant-identification, and to them it is practically indispensable for that purpose. 



These names are full of interest, from their origin, history and significance. As observed 

 in Britten and Holland's work cited in the notes below, " they are derived from a variety of 

 languages, often carrying us back to the early days of our country's history, and to the vari- 

 ous peoples who as conquerors or colonists have landed on our shores and left an impress on 

 our language. Many of these old world words are full of poetical association, speaking to us 

 of the thoughts and feelings of the old world people who invented them; others tell of the 

 ancient mythology of our ancestors, of strange old medicinal usages, and of superstitions 

 now almost forgotten." 



Most of these names suggest their own explanation. The greater number are either de- 

 scriptive or derived from the supposed uses, qualities or properties of the plants; many refer to 

 their habitat, appearance or resemblance real or fancied to other things; others come from 

 poetical suggestion, affection or association with saints or persons. Many are very graphic, as 

 the western name, Prairie Fire (Castilleia coccinea) ; many are quaint or humorous, as Cling- 

 rascal (Galium Aparine) or Wait-a-bit (Smilax rotundifolia); and in some the corruptions 

 are amusing, as Aunt Jerichos (N. Eng. ) from Angelica. The words Horse, Ox, Dog, Bull, 

 Snake, Toad are often used as a prefix to denote size, coarseness, worthlessness or aversion. 

 Devil or Devil's is used as a prefix for upwards of 40 of our plants, mostly expressive of dis- 

 like or of some traditional resemblance or association. A number of names have been con- 

 tributed by the Indians, such as Chinquapin, "Wicopy, Pipsissewa, Wankapin, etc.; while 

 the term Indian, evidently a favorite, is applied as a descriptive prefix to upwards of 80 dif- 

 ferent plants. 



There should be no antagonism in the use of scientific and popular names, since their 

 purposes are quite different. Science demands certainty and universality, and hence a single 

 universal name for each plant. For this the Latin has been adopted, and the Latin name 

 should be used, when only scientific objects are sought. But the vernacular names are a part 

 of the growth and development of the language of each people. Though these names are 

 sometimes indicative of specific characters and hence scientifically valuable, they are for the 

 most part not at all scientific, but utilitarian, emotional or picturesque. As such, they are 

 invaluable; not for science, but for the common intelligence, and the appreciation and enjoy- 

 ment of the plant world. These names, in truth, reflect the mental attitude of each people, 

 throughout its history, toward the plant kingdom; and the thoughts, suggestions, affections 

 or emotions which it has aroused in them. If these are rich and multitudinous, as in the 

 Anglo-Saxon race, so will the plant-names be also. 



Usually the most common or the favorite plants have a variety of names; but this is 

 noticeably otherwise with the Asters and the Golden-rods, of which there are about 120 

 species within our area, the common names of which, considering their abundance and vari- 

 ety, are comparatively few. The Golden-rods, without distinction, are also known as Yellow- 

 weed ox Yellow-tops ; the Asters are called also Frost-weed, Frost-floivers, Good-bye Summer 

 and by the Onandaga Indians, " It brings the Frost." A few like Aster ericoides have sev- 

 eral interesting names, but most of the species in each genus resemble each other so much 

 that not a quarter of the species have suggested to the popular apprehension any distinctive 

 name; while other less showy plants, like the Pansy ( Viola tricolor}, the Marsh Marigold 

 (Calt/ia palustris), the Spotted Touch-me-not (Impatiens biflora), Bluets (Houstonia coeru- 

 lea) and others, have a score of different names. 



The Index shows the extent to which the same popular name has been applied to differ- 

 ent plants, which is the only cause of confusion; and this confusion will usually be removed 

 by the use of the Index with a reference to the illustrations. 



New York, June*2o, 1898. 



*In compiling this list, reference has been made to numerous general and special botanical 

 works, to our state and local Floras, to Hobbs' Botanical Handbook (pharmaceutical), to Beal's, 

 Scribner's and Pammel's works on Grasses, to Sudworth's Arborescent Flora, to Britten and Hol- 

 land's Dictionary of English Plant Names (London, 1886), and to the valuable papers of Mrs. F. 

 D. Bergen on Popular Plant Names in the Botanical Gazette for 1892, p. 365; for 1893, p. 420; for 1894, 

 p. 429, and for 1896, p. 473. Prof. E. S. Burgess has also supplied about 100 popular names not 

 before noted that are in use at Martha's Vineyard and in Washington, D. C. ; and Mrs. Horner, of 

 Georgetown, Mass., and Miss Bartlett, of Haverhill, Mass., have each contributed some. 



