ENGLISH PLANT NAMES. 
31 
Beckbean. Memjanthes trifoliata, L. — Treas. Eot. 
Bede-sedge. Sparganium ramosum, L. — From the large bead-like 
fruits (A.S. Jead, a prayer). ‘ A name given to it by Turner.’ Prior, 
p. 17. 
Bedewen, or Bedwen. Betula alba, L. — West Hal. Wr. ; Corn. 
Borl. Gl. 
Bedflower. Milne and Gordon (Indigenous Botany, 1793) call 
Oalium verum, L., ‘ Golden Bedflower.’ 
Bedfurze. Vlex nanus, Forst. Hants (Hew Forest). 
Bedlam Cowslip. AYr. ‘ The Paigle or larger Cowslip.’ — Nliamp. 
Baker. It seems, however, likely that Pidmonaria officinalis was 
intended; which Langham (Garden of Health, 1597) calls CowsHps 
of Bedlem, and which is called Bedlam Cowslip in Oxf. 
Bedsfoot. A book equivalent for Clinopodium, of which it is a 
translation. — Park. Theatr., &c. ‘ Sic dictum quod surculi (aliis, ut 
Plinio, orbiculati florum ambitus) sjreciem Pedum Lecti prsebeant.’ 
Skinner. Hal. and Wr. quote Skinner as assigning this name to ‘ the 
plant mastic,’ but we find no such reference. 
Bedstraw. The general popular name for the various species of 
Galium, excluding G. Aparine, L. Prior, p. 18. 
Bedstraw, Lady’s, in old writers Our Ladies Bedstraw, or Bed- 
stre, and in Holme (ii. 98), Ladies Bendstraw. — A name which 
refers to the use of dried plants as bedding, and which is associated 
with the Blessed Yirgin from her having given birth to our Saviour 
in a stable. A legend connecting Galium verum with the Nativity 
will be found in the Athenseum of April 4, 1868. Galium verum, L. 
(Byte, Ger. ; N. Yks., Wilts. Prior, p. 18), is the true Lady’s Bed- 
straw, but the name is sometimes applied to G. saxatile, L. [Glou.), 
and G. Cruciaia, Scop. {E. Yks.), 
Bedstraw, White. Galium Mollugo, L. — Prior, p. 18. 
Bedstraw, Yellow. Galium verum, L. — Prior, p. 18. 
Bedwind. Convolvulus sepium, L. — Glou. 
Bedwine. (1) Polygonum Convolvulus, L. — Hants. 
(2) Clematis Vitalha, L. — Dors. Barnes ; Hants ; Wight, FI. Yect. 
Beebread. (1) Trifolium pratense, Y. — Kent. Bather a misnomer, 
as the hive hee cannot reach the honey ; the flowers are fertilized by 
means of the humble bee. See Darwin, Origin of Species, ed. 6, p. 75. 
(2) Borago officinalis, L. — Gard. Chron. 1871. Often grown pur- 
posely for bees. 
Beech, or Beech Tree. Fagus sylvatica, L. — Lyte. The fruit is 
generally known as Mast, or Beechmast. — Prior, p. 18. 
Beech, Dutch. Fopulus alba, L. — ‘The Dutch Beech is an old 
name given to this tree, as we are informed by Hartlib, in his Com- 
pleat Husbandman (1659), on account of ten thousand trees of it 
having been brought over all at once from Flanders, and planted in 
