THE COMMON OR CHERRY LAUREL. 
Prunus Lauroce’rasus L. 
PopuLaR names and their suggestiveness of error 
cannot be better illustrated than by a consideration 
of the trees known as Laurels. The name is said to 
be connected with the Latin word luwus, “ praise” ; 
but the origin of the associations of the name is 
Greek. Apollo, having slain the Python, the ancient 
serpent formed from the slime left after Deucalion’s 
flood, fled for purification to the Laurel-groves of the 
vale of Tempe. Here he became enamoured of the 
nymph Daphne, the daughter of the river Peneus, and 
on his pursuing her she took refuge in her paternal 
stream, and was metamorphosed intoa Laurel. Apollo, 
returning to Delphi, instituted the Pythian games to 
commemorate his victory, and the prizes there 
awarded were chiefly crowns of the leaves and berries 
of the shrub, which henceforth was looked upon as 
sacred to the god—the Lawrea Delphica or Apol- 
linaris. Apollo being the god of poetry, his emblem, 
that of victory and clemency, became the favourite of 
the poets, and hence of scholars generally, so that 
successful graduates of universities or other learned 
men became known as “laureates,” or “ baccalaurei,” 
from the berried crown. Such graduates, like the 
fellows of colleges down to our own time, were not 
allowed to marry, lest the duties of husband and 
father should take them from their literary pursuits, 
27 49 
