ENGLISH PLANT NAMES. 
227 
hande and have a certayne roughnes which maketh them to cut the 
soner : of the which property e the Northen men call it SJieregres, It 
hath a longe stalke and thre square and in the top of that is a sort of 
litle knoppes in stede of sedes and floures much like unto oure 
gardine gallingal. The people of the Fenne countreys use it in for 
fother and do heate ovens with it.’ He describes it under the name of 
‘ Carex . . . which we call in Englishe Segge or Shergres ; ’ and 
Dr. Prior (p. 212) considers some Carex intended. But in the Pens 
the Cladium is still called Sedge ; and it was ‘ once largely used for 
lighting fires at Cambridge, and is so now to some extent.’ (The 
Penland, Past and Present, p. 306.) In Turn. Names we read ‘it is 
called in Northumberland Shearegrasse because it cutteth mennes 
handes that touche it.’ In Grer. Emac. 7, is a figure (corrected from 
the original work) of a true grass which is described as having similar 
cutting properties, and of this Gerard says, ‘ In Lincolneshire it is 
called Sheeregrasse or Henne.’ We cannot identify this with certainty ; 
but it does not seem to be the same as Turner’s plant. The name 
was probably applied indiscriminately to any sharp-edged grass or 
sedge which would cut the mouths of animals feeding on it or the 
hands of men gathering it. Hal. has ‘ Shere-grass, a kind of sedge,’ 
and explains ‘ shere ’ as ‘ to cut.’ 
Grass, Sheep-killing Penny. From a supposition that it causes 
‘ liver rot ’ in sheep. Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. — Lyte. See Flowk- 
wort. 
Grass, Shelly. Triticum repens, L. — Prior, p. 212. 
Grass, Shilling. From its round leaves. Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. — 
Ayrsh. 
Grass, Shivering. Briza media, L. — Warw. 
Grass, Shore. Littorella lacustris, L. — Prior, p. 213. 
Grass, Silver. The variegated form of Plialaris arundinacea, L. — 
Nhamp. Nth. Gloss. 
Grass, Skally. Triticum repens, L. — Ireland. Called ‘ by the 
vulgar skally-grass.’ Threlkeld. Prior, p. 212. 
Grass, Snake. (1) Myosotis gmlustris, L. — Ylts. See Grass, Scorpion. 
(2) Stellaria Holostea, L. — Hants. See Agworm-flower. 
Grass, Snap. Scilla nutans, Sm. — Kent. Probably in allusion to 
the brittle flower- stalks. 
Grass, Sour. (1) Rumex Acetosa, L. — From its acid taste. Norf. ; 
Yks. (Tadcaster). 
(2) ‘A species of Carex.’ Ayrsh. Jamieson. From being plentifully 
' found in what is called ‘ sour-land.’ Herbage which is unpalatable 
to cattle is called ‘ sour,’ quite irrespective of any acidity. 
Grass, Sow. Senehiera Coronopus, Poir. — N. Yks. 
Grass, Sparrow. Asparagus officinalis, L. — Camden (Britannia), and 
still a common pronunciation of Asparagus. Prior, p. 217. 
Grass, Spart. Spartina stricta, Sm. — Prior, p. 218. See Spart. 
