120 OtTR ROCK-GARDEN 



fennel, melilot, thistle, sage, vine and several other 

 plants being highly commended for this distressing 

 complaint. 



The meaning of the name appears to be com- 

 pletely lost, unless indeed we are prepared to 

 accept the statement of an old writer 1 that "it 

 took its name of a certaine Kinges wayting Boy, 

 whiche in fetching his Lord certaine oyntments at 

 the Apothecaries, by chaunce whilest he bare them 

 had a fall, and so by the spilling of euerie eche of 

 them (meeting together by their flowing and by 

 such confusion) a meruellous sweete smell was made, 

 which as they say this marioram represented!. " 



The bistort, the central figure on Plate XXVII., is 

 a gracefully growing and picturesque plant that we 

 are glad to welcome, as its spikes of pink blossom 

 standing boldly erect come well. It was held "a 

 singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung 

 by any venemous creature, as Spiders, Toades, 

 Adders and the like." 2 It derives its name, bistort 

 the twice- twisted from its convoluted roots : hence 

 it was called adderwort, snake-weed, twice-writhen, 

 and serpentaria by the old herbalists. These roots 

 are highly astringent and possess real medical value, 

 though they are now superseded by other material. 

 They creep very freely, and by their means the plant 

 rapidly spreads and takes possession of perhaps 



1 Maplet, u A Greene Forest/' 1567. 



8 Parkinson, " Theatrum Botanicum," 1640. 



