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'•The belief was common among the Caledonians that for all 

 the diseases to which mankind is liable, there grows an herb 

 somewhere, and not far from the locality where the particular 

 disease prevails, the proper application of which would cure 

 it. " — Mackenzie. 



Alias Mhuire (Mhuire, the Virgin Mary; alias, perhaps another 

 form of the preceding names) — Mary's image, which would agree 

 with the word hypericum. According to Linnaeus, it is derived 

 from Greek virkp, uper, over, and elicwv, eikon, an image — that is 

 to say, the superior part of the flower represents an image. 



Caod aslachan Cholum chille, from Colum and cill (church, cell), 

 St. Columba's flower, the saint of Iona, who reverenced it and 

 carried it in his arms (caod) — (Irish), caodam, to come, and aslachan, 

 arms, it being dedicated to his favourite evangelist, St. John. 

 Seud, a jewel. Lus an fhbgraidh. "Formerly it was carried about 

 by the people of Scotland as a charm against witchcraft and 

 enchantment" (Don). Welsh: y fendigaid, the blessed plant. 

 French : toute-salne. English : tutsan. The St. John's wort is the 

 "fuga damonum" which Martin describes in his "Western Isles." 

 "John Morrison, who lives in Bernera (Harris) wears the plant 

 called "Send" in the neck of his coat to prevent his seeing of 

 visions, and says he never saw any since he first carried that plant 

 about with him." Children have a saying when they meet this 



plant — 



" Luibh Cholum Chille, gun sireadh gun iarraidh, 

 'Sa dheoin Dia, cha bhasaich mi 'nochd." 

 St. Columbus-wort, unsought, unasked, and, please God, I won't die to-night. 

 The Manx name " lus-y-chiolg" (Stomach herb) was used for low 

 spirits and nervousness. The roots were scalded in butter milk to 

 remove freckles. O'Reilly has also Beachnuadk beinionn, female 

 St. John's wort. 



The badge of Clan Mackinnon. 



H. quadranguhim — SquarestemmedSt.John'swort. Beachnuadk 

 firionn (Threl), male St. John's wort (see Pce.onia). 



H. androsaemum — Tutsan, meastork keeil (Threl). 



H. elodes — The marsh measaturk alta (Threl), the marsh St. 

 John's wort, meaning the wood hog's fruit, and the stream hog's 

 fruit. The first is one of the most beautiful of the St. John's 

 worts. It grows in the Highlands from Ross southwards — pretty 

 frequent about Loch Salen and other places in Argyllshire. If 



