ENGLISH PLANT NAMES. 
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Dane Weed, or Dane’s-weed. (1) Eryngium camgjesfre, L. — Nlu.m.p. 
Nth. Gloss. ‘ From Daventry we went a little out of the road to see 
a great camp called Barrow Hill They say this was a Danish 
camp, and everything hereabouts is attributed to the Danes, because 
of the neighbouring Daventry, which they suppose to be built by 
them. The road hereabouts, too, being overgrown with Daneweed, 
they fancy it sprung from the blood of Danes, slain in battle ; and 
that if upon a certain day in the year you cut it, it bleeds.’ — De Foe, 
Tour through Great Britain. See Danes’ Blood and Banewort. 
(2) Sambucus Ehulus, L.— Prior, p. 62. Suff. Bullein, Book of 
Simples, fob 51. 
Banewort. Sambucus Ebuhis, L. — Turn. Names, Lyte, Ger. ; in 
Turn. Herb, spelt Daynwort. Prior, p. 62. ‘ Ab anglis danivort aut 
walwort vocatur.’ — Turn. Lib. The traditional origin of the name is 
given under Danes’ Blood (which see) ; but Parkinson (Theatr. p. 
210) says : ‘ It is supposed it tooke the name Banewort from the strong 
purging quality it hath, many times bringing them that use it unto 
a fluxe, which then we say they are troubled with the Danes.’ The 
more generally received explanation is, however, further supported 
by the name Walwort (which see). Skinner says : ‘ Yel quod in 
Dania frequens crescit, vel quod e Danorum sanguine in praelio 
quodam occisorum orta olim credita est.’ 
D angle-thorn. ‘ The quaking grass.’ — Nemnich. This would be 
Briza media, L. ; but some error may be suspected. 
Darbottle. Centaurea nigra, L. — Coles, A. of S. 
Darnel. A name that has been variously applied, but is usually 
taken to mean Loliuin temulentum, L. It is used in this sense by 
Turner (Names), who says : ‘ Darnel groweth amonge the come, and 
the come goeth out of kjmde into darnel;’ and also by Fitzherbert 
(Boke of Husbandry), who says : ‘ Bernolde groweth up streyghte 
lyke an hye grasse, and hath long sedes on eather syde the sterte ’ 
[stalk]. ‘ In the Grete Herball, ch. 246,’ sa^^s Prior (p. 63, which see), 
‘ we find under the picture of a vetch (!) “ Lolium is cokylL” ’ Lyte 
extends the name to Lolium perenne, and Hal. and Wr. assign it to 
this plant only. In Holdich’s Essay on Weeds (1826) it is stated that 
‘ Bromus secalinus and B. mollis are the darnel of British agriculture. 
.... I know of no darnel but the B. secalinus, and less generally 
the B. mollis’ The name is given to L. temulentum in dies., where it 
is sometimes supposed to be degenerated wheat; also in Cumb., Buff. 
(Moor), Scotl. (Jamieson), and elsewhere. Skinner derives the name 
from the ‘ Belg. deeren, deren, deyren, nocere, quia utilioribus granis 
nocet eaque enecat.’ In Drayton’s Polyolbion, Song xv., the name is 
applied to Papaver Rhoeas, L. , or some other corn-field poppy : 
‘ The crimson darnel fiower, the bluebottle, and gold.’ 
Darnel, Red. Lolium perenne, L. — With. ed. ii. 
Darning-needle, Devil’s. Scandix Pecten, L. — See Devil’s D. 
Darsham Fern. Nephrodium cristatum, Rich. — Norf. (Darsham). 
Dart Grass. Holcus mollis, L., and H. lanatus, L. — North, Hal. 
Wr. ; Yks. Hallamsh. Gloss. 
