By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



313 



referred to several old authors to prove that the Shamrock was 

 [eaten by the Irish, and to one that went over to Ireland in the six- 

 teenth century, who says it was eaten, and was a sour plant. The 

 name also of Shamrock is common to several Trefoils both in the 

 Irish and Gaelic languages. Now clover could not have been eaten 

 and it is not sour. Taking therefore all the conditions requisite they 

 are only found in the Wood-Sorrel, " Oxalis acetosella." It is an 

 early spring plant, it was, and is abundant in Ireland, it is a trefoil, 

 it is called Shamrog by the old herbalists, and it is sour, while its 

 beauty might well entitle it to the distinction of being the national 

 emblem. 



The substitution of one for the other has been occasioned by cul- 

 tivation which made the Wood-Sorrel less plentiful, and the Dutch 

 Clover abundant. 



*2. 0. corniculata, (Linn.) yellow Wood-Sorrel. Engl. Bot. t. 

 1726. Reich. Icones, v. 199. Occasionally observed on waste 

 ground about Boyton. An escape from the late Mr. Lambert's 

 garden. 



* 3. 0. stricta, (Linn.) upright yellow Wood-Sorrel. Reich. 

 Icones, v. 199. " In an alder-copse at Bromham," Miss Meredith. 

 Probably the outcast from some garden. 



ORDER. CELASTRACEiE. (R. BROWN.) 

 Euonymus, (Linn.) Spindle-tree. 

 Linn. CI. v. Ord. i. 

 Name. {Euonymus) propitious : from (eu) well, and (onoma) a 

 name, is used by Pliny and others for the Spindle-Tree. 



1. E. Europceus (Linn.) European or Common Spindle-Tree. Engl. 

 Bot. t. 362. Reich. Icones, v. 309. 



Locality. Hedges, and borders of woods, on a gravelly soil. Sh. 

 Fl. May. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



In all the Districts. The whole plant is faetid and poisonous. 

 The Rev. E. Simms informs me the " Euonymus " occurs with 

 white capsules about Whiteparish. 1 



1 Aubrey says this tree is common, especially in North Wilts. The butchers 

 doe make skewers of it because it doth not taint the meate, as other wood will 

 doe : from whence it hath the name of prick- timber." N. H. of W. p. 56. 



