74 PLANT NAMES 



Saponaria, from sapo, soap; the bruised leaves 

 form a lather Hke soap. 



Sarsaparilla, from Spanish zarza (from the 

 Basque), a bramble, and parilla, dim. of parra, a Vine. 



ScHizANTHUS, from schizo, to cut, and anthos, the 

 petals pinked into fringes. 



ScHizoPHRAGMA, from schizo and phragma, a 

 wall or enclosure ; the portions of the wall between 

 the ribs of the fruit fall away when ripe. 



ScHizosTYLis, from schizo and stylos, a column. 

 (This latter word came to be used of a stake or any 

 pointed instrument, then of the iron pen for writing 

 on wax tablets, then of the author's " style " of 

 writing.) 



SciADOPiTYS, the Umbrella Tree, from skia, 

 shade, and pitus, a fir — like a closed umbrella. 



Sempervivum, from semper, always, and vivus, 

 alive — tenacity of life. 



Senecio, from senex, an old man. The somewhat 

 fanciful explanation given is that the seed vessel is 

 like a bald head. 



SiLENE, Catchfly, from sialon, saliva; the gummy 

 secretion of the leaves entraps flies. 



Smilax, from smile, a knife, perhaps referring to 

 shape of leaves. 



SoLDiNELLA (scc SoHdago), coin-shaped leaves. 



Sorrel, from sour, referring to the taste. 



Sparaxis, from sparrasso, to tear — lacerated 

 spathes. 



Spartium, Spanish Broom, from sparton, cordage, 

 referring to the flexible shoots. 



