ENGLISH PLANT NAMES. 
125 
Cow- wheat. (1) Melampyrum. — A translation of the old Latin 
name Triticum vaccinium. See Bauhin, Hist. iii. pt. 2, p. 439. Lyte, 
Prior, p. 55. 
(2) Rhinanthus Crista-galli, L. — xS.-TF. Cumb. 
(3) Hal. and Wr. assign the name to ‘the horse-flower,’ We do 
not know what plant is intended. 
[Cow- wort. Geum urhanuin, L. — Pratt says ‘ the old herbalists call 
it Cow-wort ; ’ but we have not been able to meet with the name.] 
Crab, or Crab-apple. Pyrus Malus, L. — Clies. ; E. Bord. Bot. E. 
Bord. ; N. Line. E. D. S. Gloss. C. 6 ; Warw. ; E. Yks. Prior, p. 55, 
q. V. In N. Line, gathering crabs is termed erabbing, and an acid 
liquor, similar to vinegar, made from crabs, is called erab-vargis. The 
name is A.S. : ‘ “Mala macianawode cra55is.” Gl. Harl. 3388.’— Cock- 
ayne, iii. 320. 
(2) ‘ A potato-apple. Lane.'* — Hal. Wr. 
Crab, Minshull. Mespilus germanica, L. — ‘ In all the hedges about 
Minshull [GAes.] {Eng. FI.) : there, I am told, known by the name of 
Minshull Crab* — New Bot. Guide, i. 255. There seems, however, to 
be some error about this, as the Minshull Crab is a well-known and 
much -valued variety of cultivated apple found in old orchards in 
Cheshire ; while the Hon. J. L. Warren informs us that ‘ nothing is 
known of Mespilus there since anything like the memory of man.’ 
Crabby Ore. Fucus serratus, L. — Scilly Lsles, Journal Eoyal Agr. 
Soc. 1870, part ii. p. 384. 
Crab Cherry. Prunus Avium, L. — N. Bucks. 
Crab-grass. (1) Salicornia lierhacea, L. — Ger. Prior, p. 56. 
(2) Polygonum avieulare, L. — Norf. 
Crab’s Claw. (1) Stratiotes aloides, L. — Ger. Index. ‘Among [the 
leaves] come foorth divers cases or husks, very like to crab’s clawes ; 
out of which when they open growe white flowers.’ — Ger. 677. 
(2) Polygonum Persiearia, L. — Dors. 
Crab-stock. Pyrus Malus, L. — Wr. 
Crab-tree. The common name for Pyrus Malus, L., and sometimes 
used figuratively. Bp. Hall, in his Satires, speaks of 
‘ The erab-tree porter of the Guild Hall gates.’ 
The inhabitants of Mobberley in Cheshire are known in the county as 
‘ Mobberley Crabs ; ’ and fifty or sixty years ago it was the custom in 
Mobberley to pelt the parson with crab apples on ‘ Wakes ’ Sunday — 
the Sunday next after S. Luke’s day. 
Crab-weed. Polygonum avieulare, L. — Ess. 
Craches. ‘The herb chickweed.’ — Hal. Wr. Stellaria media, L. 
Crack-berries. See Crake-berries. 
Crackerbeads. ‘ The roots of big tangles, or Alga marina, eaten by 
young children.’ — Angus, Jamieson. 
Crackers. Silene injlata, L. — Suss. 
