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Plants new to Berwickshire, with Notes on their History. 

 By James Hardy. 



Having, as occasion offered, collected materials for a History 

 of our Border Plants, with reference to their nomenclature — 

 how it originated, and how it was applied; their introduction 

 into the literature of science, so far as the dates can be 

 ascertained ; together with the various popular attributes, 

 whether superstitious, economical, or literary, annexed to 

 them ; I shall, while recording recent discoveries, of which 

 some of our rural investigators have furnished the evidence, 

 resume the thread, which, last season, I took up in the case 

 of Goodyera repens. The subject requires more leisure than 

 I have at my disposal at present, but, perhaps, hereafter, I 

 may be induced to pursue the subject, in such broken essays, 

 as the odds and ends of time admit of. I duly chronicle my 

 authorities, passing over those that add nothing to our know- 

 ledge. 



1. Potentilla Yema, L. 



Hab.- Netherbyres Mill, half-way between Ayton and Eye- 

 mouth. Thomas Renton. Mr. H. C. Watson gives "Berwick," 

 but this is the Spindlestone locality. 



This was first given as an established species by Hieronymus 

 Bock or Tragus in the Kreuterbuch, (the 1st Edit, is 1539, but 

 I cite that of 1546), p. 192, as the least kind of "Funff finger 

 kraut ;" minimum of Ti-agus by Kyber, 1552, p. 505. It is also 

 reckoned to be the Quinquefolium luteum minus of Fuchsius, 

 Imagines, p. 359, Basil, 1545 ; although figured as of erect 

 growth. There is an indication but no description of it in the 

 text, first printed in 1542. Tragus, who is a facetious man 

 ("jocularis homo") found the astringency of its fruit and root 

 somewhat unpleasant; "rumpifet die zungen zussamen, nit 

 anderst dann Gallopfell": " quod linguam commestam vellicet, 

 non ahter atque Gralla, relinquitur." Growing even on the road- 

 sides in Germany, it next attracts Clusius's attention in his 

 journey through Pannonia, Austria, Moravia, and Bohemia. 

 "Nihil illo vulgatius secundum vias locis siccis et nudis." Stir- 

 pium Pannon., p. 430, A.D. 1583 ; and Earior. Hist. Plant, II., 

 p, 107. I may, however, mention that Sprengel, Hist. Eei. 

 Herb., I., p. 416, regards this as the Potentilla opaca; but "doctors 

 differ." Thence it is transferred to the English Herbals, appear- 

 ing first, but without any locality in Gerard Emac, p. 989, being 

 inserted by the editor, Dr. Thomas Johnson, who brought it 

 from his Cambrian journey in July and August, 1639. (Mercurii 

 Botan., Pars, II., p. 28). Thomas Willisell. conveyed it to Eay 

 from Kippax, near Pontefract, Yorkshire (Synopsis, 2nd Ed., 



