3° 



mur, sorrow, grief, affliction ; draidhean, another form of droigh- 

 ionn (see Prunus spinosa). Draidh, or druidh, also means a 

 magacian, which may refer to its supposed magical effects on 

 troubles as well as diseases. A noted plant in olden times for 

 the cure of various complaints. Irish : marbh droighionn — 

 marbh dhruidh, a necromancer, or magician. Geur bhileach — 

 geur, sharp, sour, rigid ; bhileach, leaved ; on account of its 

 leaves being sharply serrated, or because of its bitter taste. 

 Mirean, or Meirean nam magh, the merry one of the field. 

 Welsh : y dorllwyd. Trydon, what pervades. 



Sanguisorba — Burnet. A' bhileach losgainn. The leaves good 

 for burns and inflammations (losgadh, burning). Manx: lus yn 

 aile, the fire weed. 



Alchemilla vulgaris — Common lady's mantle. Gaelic : copan 

 an driilchd, the dew cup ; falluing Mhuire, Mary's mantle. Irish : 

 dearna Mhuire, Mary's palm. Gaelic : cruba, leotnhainn, lion's 

 paw ; cbta preasach nighean an righ, the princesses' plaited gar- 

 ment. Irish : leathach bhuidhe, also leagadh bhuidhe (O'Reilly). 

 A decoction from this plant was supposed to restore beauty 

 after it faded. The dew gathered from its cup-like leaves had the 

 same effect. 



A. alpina — Alpine Lady's Mantle. Gaelic : trusgan, mantle. 

 The form and the satiny under-side of the leaves of this and the 

 other species gave rise to the names trusgan, falluing, cbta, and the 

 English name, lady's mantle. 



" Tha trusgan faoilidh air cruit an aonaich." — Macintyre. 

 The mantle-grass on the ridge of the mountain. 

 The hills about Coire-cheathaich and Ben Doran (the district 

 described by the poet) are covered with this beautiful plant. 

 The word trusgan, mantle, may be used in this instance in its 

 poetic sense. Minan Mhuire (Threl) (Meangan Mhuire), Mary's 

 twig, or Miann Mhuire, Mary's desire. 



Mespilus germanica— Medlar. Gaelic: crann meidil (Macdon- 

 ald) said to be a corruption of Mespilus, formerly called the medic 

 tree. Medle stands for the old French mesle, a meddlar. 



Crataegus oxyacantha— Whitethorn, hawthorn. Gaelic: sgith- 

 each geal, drioghionn geal (see Prunus spinosa), geal, white ; preas 

 nan sgeachag; sgeach, a haw. Welsh : draenen wen, white thorn. 

 Manx : dritie skaig. Irish : sciog. 



