PLANT NAMES 63 



Cerastium, from keras, a horn — shape of seed 

 vessels. 



Cereus, the Torch Thistle, from cereus, waxy ; said 

 to refer to the fact that some species are as pliant 

 as soft wax, and some as brittle as wax tapers 

 {cf. sincere — i.e., without wax, referring to pure 

 honey, or perhaps to a statue in which there are 

 no flaws filled with wax). 



Cham^rops, from chamai, near the ground, and 

 rJwps, a bush, a ground bush — i.e., as compared with 

 other tropical Palms (see Germander). 



Chimonanthus, from cheima, winter, and anthos, 

 flowering in winter. 



Chionanthus, the Fringe Tree, from chion, snow, 

 and anthos. 



Chrysanthemum, chrusos, gold, and anthos, a 

 golden flower. 



Cineraria, from cineres, ashes, from the grey down 

 on the stem [cf. a cinerary urn; no connection with 

 cinder) . 



CiSTUS, from kiste, a box, referring to the shape 

 of the seed vessel [cf. cistern, chest; no connection 

 with cyst) . 



Clematis, from klema, a Vine branch, from its 

 climbing habit. 



Cockle. This word in Irish signified a small 

 bowl, then a shell, whence the bivalve, or 

 the shell of a nut, a husk, whence Corn-cockle 

 (Job xxxi. 40). 



Coco Palm. This word, coco, in Portuguese 

 meant a bug-bear, an ugly mask to frighten children, 



