86 
A DICTIONARY OF 
Candlestick, Lady’s. Primula ^ elatior' (probably the caulescent 
variety of P. vulgaris, Huds.). — ‘ This is in the north commonly called 
Lady's Candlestick.' — Thos. Lawson, in Eay’s Correspondence, 1688. 
Candlewick. Verhascum Thapsus, L. — N. Som. Cockayne, ii. 316, 
where the A.S. name Candlewort is given to it. ‘ Called lucernaria or 
wick plant, useful for wicks of lamps.’ — Id. In Cotgrave it is called 
Candleweek Mullein. Cfr. High Taper and Torches. 
Candock. (1) Nymphcea alha, L. — Wore. With. ed. ii. Called 
Watercan ‘ at Tam worth \_Leic. and Warw.'], from the haK unfolded 
leaves floating on the water, being supposed to resemble cans. They 
call the leaves can-leaves .' — With. ed. ii. vol. ii. 555. Wr. gives the 
name, but says simply ‘ a water plant.’ 
(2) Nuphar lutea, Sm. — Warw. ‘From its broad leaves, and the 
shape of its seed-vessel, like that of a silver can or flagon. Dan. 
aahande.' — Prior, p. 37. In Walton’s Angler (pt. i. ch. xx.) some other 
plant must be meant, unless, as is not unlikely, only the Nymphcea 
is alluded to as the water-lily, while by candock the Nuphar is 
intended ; the passage alluded to enumerates among water-weeds — 
‘ Water-lillies, candocks, reate, and bullrushes.’ 
Candy-tuft, or Candy Mustard. The common candy-tuft of gardens 
is Iheris umhellata, L. ; the wild species is I. amara, L. — Prior, p. 37. 
Cane Apple. Arbutus Unedo, L. — See Apple. 
Canker. (1) Rosa canina, L. — Var. dial., Hal. Wr. ; Dev. Grose. 
‘ I had rather be a canker in the hedge than a rose in his grace.’ 
Much Ado about Nothing, Act I. sc. hi. 
‘ To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose. 
And plant this thorn, this canker, Bohngbroke.’ 
K. Hen. IV., Pt. I., Act I. sc. hi. 
‘ The cancer-blooms have full as deep a die 
As the perfumed tincture of the rose.’ 
Shakes. Sonnet hv. 
The name is applied especially to the fruit of this plant ; Camb., Dors. 
(Dors. Gloss.), Pss., Norf. ; and also to the mossy gall formed by 
Cynips rosce upon its branches. In this last sense it is perhaps used 
by Milton (Lycides, 45) : ‘ As killing as the canker to the rose.’ Mr. 
H. T. Riley (N. & Q., 1, x. 153) says: ‘It is a not uncommon belief 
that a scratch with a thorn of this plant is peculiarly venomous. 
. . . . May not the fact of its causing an inflamed and somewhat 
obstinate sore have originally obtained for it the name of canker ? ’ 
(2) Papaver Rhoeas, L. — East, Hal. Wr. ; Norf. ; Suff. ‘ From its 
red colour, and its detriment to arable land.’ — Prior, p. 37. The 
Dutch name is Ranker -hloemen. 
(3) ‘A toadstool.’ TFes^, Hal. Wr. ‘A poisonous fungus resem- 
bling a mushroom.’ Grose. ‘ A tree-fungus, from its seeming to eat 
like a cancer into decaying trees. Boletus, L.’ Prior, p. 37. But 
Boleti do not grow on trees, and if there be any authority for limiting 
the name to a ^ree-fungus, a species of Polyporus is probably meant. 
(4) Leontodon Taraxacum, L. — Clou. This corresponds with the 
Dutch name Cancker-Uoemen, given for this plant in Park. Theatr. 781. 
