85 



Laurace^e. 



Lauras. Dr. Siegfried compares laurus with daunts oak. As 

 hngua from dingua, lacrima from dacrima. 



L. nobilis — The laurel, the bay-tree (which must not be con- 

 founded with our common garden laurel, Primus lauro-cerasus 

 and P. lusitanicus). Gaelic and Irish : labhras. Crann laoibh- 

 reil, the tree possessing richness of foliage. With its leaves, poets 

 and victorious generals were decorated. The symbol of triumph 

 and victory. It became also the symbol of massacre and 

 slaughter, hence another Gaelic name, casgair, to slaughter, to hit 

 right and left. Ur uaine, the green bay-tree. 



" Agus e 'ga sgaoileadh fein a mach mar ur chraoibh uaine." 

 And spreading himself like a green bay-tree. — Psalm xxxvii., 35. 



The itr chraoibh uaine is supposed by Royle to be the rose-bay 

 (Nerium oleander), it being very common, and conspicuous by 

 its rosy flowers, near the streams — the true laurel being very 

 scarce in Palestine. "Ur, bay or palm tree, from the Sanskrit, 

 urh, to grow up. Palm Sunday is styled 'Dbmhnach an uir,' the 

 Lord's day of the palm." — Bourke. 



Daphne laureola — Spurge laurel. Buaidh chraobh, na Labhras 

 (Logan), the tree of victory, or laurel tree. 



Badge of Clan Maclaren. (Mac Labhruinn). 



L. cmnamomurn — Cinnamon. Gaelic and Irish : caineal. 

 " 'S e 's mlllse na 'n caineal." — Beinn-Dorain. 

 It is sweeter than cinnamon. 



Canal (Welsh : canel). 



" Rinn mi mo leabadh cubhraidh le mirr, aloe, agus canal." — Proverbs 

 vii., 17. 



I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 



From the Hebrew : qinnamon. Greek : /ctva/iu^ov, kinamomon. 

 Besides the true cinnamon plant, there is another species known 

 under the name of cassia. 



"Malairt ann ad mhargaidhean, bhaiarunn, casia agus calamus." — Ezekiel 

 xxvii., 19. 



There were exchanged in the fairs iron, cassia and calamus. 



Polygonace^. 

 Polygonum (from ttoA/us, many, and yow, knee, many knees or 

 joints). Gaelic : lusan gliiineach, kneed or jointed plants. 



