142 



Page 101. 

 Taxus baccata (The Yew) — lubhar. In the very ancient tale of 

 " Baile Mac Buain," said to be as old as the time of Cormac Mac 

 Art (212 B.C.), reference is made to the yew tree of Baile ("Ibar 

 Baile") and the apple of noble Aillin ("Aball Aillini arda"). 

 The lady Aillin was killed whilst trying to make an appointment 

 with her lover Baile. The news of her tragic death so affected 

 him that he suddenly died, and from his grave there sprung up a 

 yew tree, having the form of Bailees head on the top. The belief 

 in the miraculous seems to be very ancient. The Greeks and 

 Scandinavians traced the origin of the human race to the ash, and 

 the Romans to the oak. Pope Pius II., in his work on Asia and 

 Europe in the fifteenth century, states that in Scotland there grew 

 on the banks of a river a tree that produced fruits resembling 

 ducks, and when they fell into the water became turned into- 

 ducks. Gerarde describes and figures the famous "Barnacle tree, 

 or the tree-bearing geese." 



Page 102. 

 Orchis maculata (Spotted Orchis) — Urach bhallach. This is a 

 very common plant in the Highlands, on moors and hilly pastures. 

 The leaves are spotted with purple spots, and the tradition is it 

 and the spotted Persicaria were growing on Calvary, hence were 

 stained with the precious blood of Christ. In Cheshire it is called 

 "Gethsemane." "In some parts of the north (Aberdeenshire) the 

 rustics believe that if you take the proper half of the root of the 

 orchis and get any one of the opposite sex to eat it, it will produce 

 a powerful affection for you, while the other half will produce as 

 strong an aversion." This is probably the plant mentioned in a 

 Highland incantation as "Gradh is fuath" (love and hate). See 

 Mr. Mackenzie's "Gaelic Incantations and Charms," page 13. 

 Old English name, "Lover's Wanton." 



Page 117. 

 Phragmites. — This stately reed is pretty common on the shores 

 of lakes, rivers, &c. It grows frequently to the height of seven or 

 eight feet, or even more. Its stems are frequently used for pipe 

 reeds, hence its Irish name. The "bull rush" or "reed mace 

 was frequently given as the badge of Clan Mackay, but that it was 

 the plant used is most unlikely, because it is very scarce in their 

 country. From communications received from some influential 



