nam ban-slth, 1 the fairy-women's distaff. Cuige.al nan losgunn, 

 the frogs' distaff. It is often, but inconectly, called bog bhuine 

 or bulrush (see Scirpus lacustris). The downy seeds were used 

 for stuffing pillows, and the leaves for making mats, chair bottoms, 

 thatch, and sometimes straw hats or bonnets. The great reed 

 mace (Typha latifolia) cuigeal nam ban sith, is usually represented 

 by painters in the hand of our Lord, as supposed to be the reed 

 with which He was smitten by the Roman soldiers, and on which 

 the sponge filled with vinegar was reached to Him. 



T. angustifolia — Lesser reed-mace or cat's-tail) Irish : bodan 

 (O'Reilly), dim. of bod, a tail, &c. 



Sparganium — Name in Greek denoting a little band, from the 

 ribbon-like leaves. 



S. ramosum — Branched bur-reed. Gaelic : seisg rigk, the king's 

 sedge, from its being a large plant with sword-shaped leaves. 

 Seisg mheirg (Stewart) — meirg, rust, a standard or banner. Manx : 

 curtlagh muck, the pig's reed. 



S. simplex — Upright bur -reed. Gaelic: seisg madraidh. 

 Armstrong gives this name to S. erectum, by which he doubtless 

 means this plant. Seisg (Welsh: hesg.) sedge, and madradh, a 

 dog, a mastiff. Name probably suggested by the plant being in 

 perfection in the dog-days, the month of July, am mios madrail. 



JUNCACEjE. 



Juncus, from the Latin jungo, to join. The first ropes were 

 made from rushes, and also floor covering. Ancient Gaelic : aoin, 

 from aon, one. Latin: unus. Greek: ev. Ger. : ein. Manx: 

 shune. Welsh: brwynen. 



"A dath amar dhath an aeil, 

 Coilcigh eturra agus aein. 

 Slda eturra is brat gorm, 

 Derg or eturra is glan chora. 



(From the description of the Lady Crehe's house by Caeilte's MacRonain, 

 from the Book of Ballymote). 



1 Ban sitk— A female fairy seen generally before the death of some great 

 one, as a chieftain, and then always dressed in a green mantle, with loose flying 

 hair. 



