184 
A DICTIONARY OF 
Fir. A general name for many sj^ecies of Finns and Abies. — Prior, 
p. 79. 
Fir, Scotch. Finns sijlvestris, L. — Prior, p. 79. 
Fir, Silver. Finns Ficea, L. — Prior (p. 79) says ‘from its white 
trunk ; ’ an error, as its trunk is remarkably dark-coloured. The 
undersides of the leaves are, however, silvery, whence the name. 
Fir, Spruce. Abies excelsa^ Poir. — Prior, p. 220. 
Fir, Stone. Allosorus crispus, Bernli. — So called by Southey, 
according to Pratt. 
Fir Apple. A fir-cone. — Var. dial. Hal. Wr. See ‘Apple, Fir. 
Spelt Fur Apple in E. D. S. Grloss. C. 8 (Cumb.). 
Fir Balls. Eir cones. — Sal. (Clun). 
Fir-bob. A fir cone, — dies. ; Leic. Wr. ; Sal. (Pulverbatch). 
Fire Flout. Fapaver Rlioeas, L. — Nliumb. 
Fire Grass. Alchemilla arvensis, L. — ‘ In some places in England 
it is called Fire Grass, and is found to be highly beneficial in erysi- 
pelas.’ — John Smith’s Domestic Botany, p. 408. 
Fireleaves. ‘ -In Gloucestershire the name is given to the leaves of 
Plantains, more especially to the Plantago media ; and we have heard 
it in Herefordshire used for the Scabiosa succisa, which is very preva- 
lent on the flats of the Wye, Both are named fire-leaves on the same 
principle, for we have seen the farmer of Gloucestershire with a 
plantain leaf, and he of Herefordshire with a scabious leaf, select 
specimens, and violently twist them, to ascertain if any water could 
be squeezed out of them. If so, this moisture is said to induce 
fermentation in newly-carried hay sufficient to fire the rick.’ — Gard. 
Chron. 18G0, p. 738. In Cheshire a large quantity of Plantago 
lanceolata in the herbage is supposed to have the effect of causing hay 
to heat. 
Fireweed. (1) Plantago media, L. — Cyclopaedia of Agriculture. See 
Fire-leaves. 
(2) In Nemnich (no doubt erroneously), Carlina vulgaris, L. 
Fire-o’-gold. Caltha palustris, L. — N. Bucks. 
Fir-moss. Lycopodium Selago, E. — Prior, p. 79. 
First of-May. From its time of flowering. Saxifraga granulata, 
L. (the double garden variety). — dies. 
Firsun. ‘ Eurze or gorse. MS. Med.’ — Hal. Wr. Ulex europoeus^L. 
Fish-belly. Cnicus lieterop)liyllus, L. — Cumb. ‘ The underside of 
the leaf is white, and turns up in the wind.’ — E. D. S. Gloss. C. 8. 
Fish Leaves. Potamogeto7i ncdans, L., and other species. — Suff. 
From a belief that fish alwa5^s lie under the shelter of the flat leaves. 
See Tenchweed. 
Fish Mint. Mentha acpnatica, L. — Lyte. 
Fissle. ‘A thistle.’ — Sal.; Hal. Wr. 
