36 PLANT NAMES 



eyes called plumbum. But may it not have been 

 from the lead colour of its flower ? Pennyroyal, 

 Mentha pulegium (not Pennywort, which is a name 

 given to four different plants from the shape of their 

 leaves), is a singular corruption of the old name, 

 Pulial Royal. It is so called from pulex, a flea, as it 

 was esteemed an efficacious protection against those 

 little pests. Santolina, from sanctum linum, holy 

 Flax, is said to have derived its name from its 

 medicinal powers. Saxifrage, which means " broken 

 stone," one would naturally explain by its habitat. 

 It is said, however, to refer to its eflicacy against 

 stone in the bladder. Scilla, from skullo, to tear 

 or to annoy, was called from its poisonous proper- 

 ties. Selago, with its diminutive Selaginella, is 

 Celtic, meaning salutary for the sight. Scrophu- 

 laria explains itself. Scahiosa was a remedy for the 

 itch, scabies. Solanum, from solor, to solace, was 

 believed to have soothing qualities. Solidago, 

 Golden Rod, the national flower of the United 

 States, from solido, to unite, was used for cuts. It 

 is interesting to know that the Latin word solidus 

 was used in later times for a coin, which is a solid 

 disc of metal. The s in £ s. d. stands for solidi. 

 From this comes the Italian soldo and French sou. 

 And a soldier was one who fought for payment, a 

 soldo a day. Statice, the Sea Lavender, is from sto, 

 to stand or to stop, from its astringent qualities. 

 Spurge is from expurgo, to cleanse away, from its 

 use in destroying warts. Stitchwort was esteemed 

 as a remedy for a stitch in the side Reseda , 



