] I 1 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
common. Var. 7 on rocky ledges on mountains, where also a and 
3 occur. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Autumn. 
A very variable plant. Stem generally 1 to 2 feet high, slightly 
ilex nous at the top, terminated by a long narrow panicle. Leaves 
very variable in breadth, and in the margin being entire or serrate ; 
lower leaves attenuated at the base ; middle and upper ones atte- 
nuated at each end, and very acute. Anthodes varying much in 
the number of the flowers, and consequently in their diameter. 
Pericline 1 to J inch long, with greenish-yellow phyllaries, scarious 
at the margins, generally pubescent on the back. Florets all bright- 
yellow, those of the ray strapshaped-elliptical, spreading. Pappus 
white, much longer than the brown achenes, which are slightly 
pubescent. Plant green, glabrous or pubescent, the upper part of 
the stem and rachis, branches of the panicle and pedicels pubescent 
with curled hairs. Qommm Golden , rocl 
French, Verge cVOr Commune. German, Gemeine Goldruthe. 
'I'll is plant is also called Wound-wort, from its reputation as a vulnerary. We may 
here remark that the terminal wort, so frequently occurring in the English compound 
names of plants, is derived from the Saxon, being a general name for a herb in that 
language. This form of termination has been largely adopted by Dr. Lindley, whose 
earnest labours in the Held of botanical research and nomenclature are suddenly ended 
as this page goes through the press. He believed that the progress of Botany as a 
science was greatly impeded in this country by the repulsive appearance of the names 
which it employs, and he endeavoured, in many instances, to substitute English names 
for the Latin or Greek compounds, by which the genera of plants are distinguished. 
Writing on this Bubject in the introduction to his great work, "The Vegetable King- 
dom," be says, "The attempt has been already made in the author's 'School Botany,' 
where it, will be found that by availing himself of well-known English names of the 
English word ' wort? a uniform English nomenclature has been secured for all the 
common European natural orders of plants." 
This Golden-rod, or Woui d wort, is a favourite remedy with our old friend Gerarde. 
lb' tells us that it obtained a high price as a foreign herb till discovered growing near 
London, a Tier which it was neglected, " which plainly setteth foorth our inconstancie 
and sudden mutabilitie, esteeming qo Longer of any thing (how pretious soever it be) 
than whilst it is strange ami rare. This veiilieth our English proverbe, ' Far fetcht 
and deere bought is best for ladies,' or rather for fantastical! physitions. Thus much 
have I spoken to bring these new tan-led fellowes backe againe toesteeme better of this 
admirable plante." Dr. Withering quotes Dr. Molyneux, who says, " Pulvis foliorum 
aut fhuum, vel iutegra? herbs exsiccatSB, et in nares attractus sternutationes fortissimo 
exntat." 'I'.ut what," says the old Doctor, "will the modern beaux think of the 
commentary of another physician, who says, 'I look upon common snuffing to be the 
meanest way of debauchery ; hurting the eyes and ears and shocking the senses, stuffing 
the stomach and lungs, aud most practised by tin 1 most impolite of men." In modern 
times, we are somewhat relieved from this "mean practice of snuff-taking;" but what 
shall we say of the increasing habit ofsmoki 
