Clare Island Survey — Gaelic Plant and Animal Names. 4 9 



sometimes applied to the rosette of broad base-leaves of this common 

 species, the second name being given to the mature plant with its long 

 flowering or fruiting spike. The form of the first component in the 

 second name varies much in different parts of Ireland. From Kerry 

 and from Claremorris, Co. Mayo, I have the form Cjiu&c pi.v\\ &15, which is 

 simply Croaghpatrick, the famous " Keek " of Westport. In Glen Inagh, 

 Connemara, I was given the name bileoj Cj\u&c p<st>|i&i5, meaning 

 the Croaghpatrick Leaf or Plant, and from Maam, Co. Galway, I have 

 got Copog C]\6 p^'o^Aij with the rendering, Leaf of St. Patrick's Hut. 

 Threlkeld in his " Synopsis " (1735) gives C^oTja p/yojitiij:, meaning 

 apparently St Patrick's Palms (of the hand). Whatever may be the 

 true rendering of this first component, C]\6 or G|ui&c, one thing is certain, 

 that the plant is connected with St. Patrick. 



In Clare Island the leaves are used as a poultice for sores. 



Copule&c. Himantludia lorea Lyngb., Sea-Thongs. — This name was given 

 me at Louisburgh Quay by a Einvyle cii]i]\6.c&T>6n or canoe-man. 



Coip5e&-|\&c. Arundo Phragmites Linne, Common Eeed. — Landing on Achill- 

 beg after crossing the Blind Sound from Cloghmore in August last, I 

 noticed this handsome marsh grass growing as a cultivated plant in a 

 fenced field. The owner of the crop told me it was Coifge&ji&c, and 

 that he manured it, and grew it for thatching. Threlkeld gives a 

 variant, cuisgirnah, as used in Cork — see jiotc&c. 



Co] - 1-1011116.15, Fox's Paw. Fucus canaliculatus Linne. — This name was given 

 me at Louisburgh by the Einvyle canoe-man already mentioned. 



C^A'OAn. Arctium Zappa Linne, Burdock. General in Clare Island, also at 

 Cloghmore, Achill Sound. This plant affords a good illustration of the 

 peculiar sexual system which prevails in the folk botany of Gaelic 

 Ireland. A male ("pifveMin) and a female (b&nieMin, pronounced 

 bwinnan) q\&T>&n are well recognized both on Clare Island and on Achill 

 Sound : " That one there that has the big leaves on it like rhubarb has 

 a cure in it. That's the q\<voAn b&irie&rin," said my informant, pointing 

 to a Burdock showing only the large root-leaves. " That other one 

 that throws the long leg is no good at all. That's the cjia'oati ppe&nn." 

 The " long leg " of this male crawdhaun was the stiff fruiting stem. This 

 sexual system of Irish folk botany owes nothing to Linnaeus, and I 

 have never been able to grasp its abstruse principles. 



C]\&nn c&o]iceorm, Berry Tree. Pyrus Aucuparia Ehrh., Quicken Tree, Mountain 

 Ash. — Curraun Achill ; general in Ireland, with or without the prefix 

 C-f\6-nii, and surviving even in Cornwall and Devonshire in the form keer 

 or care. In Co. Dublin it becomes quayreen, and in the Isle of Man cuim. 

 A famous tree in Gaelic legend. 



B.I.A. PROC, VOL. XXXI, B % 



