X 
INTRODUCTION. 
Besides the names of wild British plants, some of those of onr old 
garden favourites and of many of our culinary plants, which from 
antiquity or general use may claim to he considered as really English 
Plant-names, are included. The scientific equivalents are given in 
almost every instance in preference to the generally-received or English 
hook-names ] it is believed that hy this means greater accuracy has 
heen ensured, and that the Glossary of Plant-Names will thus he 
rendered more really useful. 
In collecting and collating the plant-names which occur in 
dictionaries and glossaries we have had considerable difficulties to 
encounter. One of the principal of these lay in the misapplication 
of the scientific names of plants ; and it is often only after much 
labour that the necessary correction has heen made, and the plant 
intended identified. Halliwell and Wright are in the main satis- 
factory on this head ; but with such dictionaries as, for example, 
Holloway’s, the task has not heen a light one, and could only have 
heen executed by a person possessed of some technical botanical 
knowledge. 
To the appeals which we, from time to time, made for assistance 
in collecting the names in use in various counties we had an ample 
response. The subject of Plant-names appeared to have created a 
wide-spread interest, and lists were sent to us from all parts of the 
kingdom ; and by the kindness of our correspondents, to whom we 
here tender our warmest thanks, we have been enabled to add much 
to the interest, and indeed the originality, of our Dictionary, by 
including a very large number of local names which, so far as Ave 
know, do not occur in any other published work. Our helpers 
have been so numerous that it is impossible to acknowledge them in 
detail ; and if we have not added a list of their names, Ave must ask 
them to believe that it is not from any Avant of gratitude on our part, 
or appreciation of their valuable, help, but from a conviction that 
amongst so great a number, and out of the piles of letters which Ave 
have received during the last fifteen years, many mistakes Avould 
have occurred, and Ave should unwittingly have omitted some 
Avhose names ought to have been included. But even Avith the 
valuable assistance Ave have had, it is certain that many omissions of 
