ENGLISH PLANT NAMES. 
327 
Masterwort. Peucedanum Ostruthium, Koch. — Lyte, who includes 
in the same chapter ^gopodium Podagraria^ L., and says : ‘ Whereas 
these herbes have once taken roote, thej' wyll there remayne will-?, 
ingly, and do yearely increase and spreade abroade, getting more 
grounde dayly : for which cause as I thinke it was first called 
Imperatoria or Masterwoortz in Douch.’ Lyte, p. 300. Prior (p. 147) 
suggests a different explanation. 
Masterwort, Black. Astrantia major, L. — A name proposed by 
Gerard (p. 828). 
Mast Tree. Pinus Abies, L. — Ger. ‘ Sic dicta quia ex ea mali 
navium conficiuntur. ’ Skinner. 
Matfellon, or Matfilon. Centaur ea nigra, L., and C. Scahiosa, L. — 
Ger. Hal. Wr. ‘ It is also called Materfillon and Matrefillon, of a 
corrupted word as it seemeth.' Ger. Lyte gives Materfilon as the 
shop name. Prior, p. 147. 
Mat-grass. (1) Psamina arenaria, Beauv. — Norf. 
(2) Nardus strida, L. — With. ed. ii. Prior, p. 148. 
Mathes, or Maithes. Anthemis Cotida, L. — Ger. Index. Under 
this name we may place many slightly varying forms of it — e. g. 
Mather or Mathern (Lyte, Dors., Hants., Warw.), Mauthern (Wilts. 
Hal. Wr.), Mavin (Suss. Phyt. iii. 435, o. s.), Maythig (Sal.), Mawth 
(Hal. Wr.), Mawthen (Wight, PI. Vect. ; Ger. Appx.), Mawther 
(Prior, p. 149), Maithen (Archaeologia, xxx. 410, Grete Herhall, Sal.), 
Maise (Sal.), Meaden (Dors. Dors. Gloss.), Mazes (Line. E. D. S. 
Gloss. 0. 6), Moithern (Sal.). The name is often applied also to 
Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, L., and to the allied species of Matri- 
caria, &c. Dr. Prior’s notes upon this name and allied ones should 
be consulted; see also Cockayne, ii. 391. Dr. J. Hill (Herbarium 
Brittanicum, 1769) aj)plies Mai then to the genus Crepis. See also 
Mayweed, to which Mathwede (Turn. Herb.) and Maitheweed 
(North, Grose) are transitional. 
Mathes, Red. Adonis autumnalis, L. — Lyte. ‘ In English we may 
call it red Maythes : by which name it is called of them that dwell 
where it groweth naturally ’ (Ger. 310) — i. e. according to the same 
author, ‘ in the west parts of Englande among the come.’ The ‘ fine 
jagged leaves very deepely cut like those of Maiweed ’ (Ger. ) sug- 
gested the name. Prior, p. 143. 
Mat-reed (leaves of Typlia latifolia, L. ; Lyte), Mat-rush (Scirpus 
lacustris, L. ; Lyte), or Matweed (Typha latifolia, L. ; Culpeper: 
Psamma arenaria, Beauv. ; Ger. : Nardus strida, L. ; With. ed. ii. : 
and Spartina stricta, Eoth. ; Ger.). Names alluding to the use of the 
leaves or stems for making mats. Prior, p. 148. 
Matwourth. Archaeologia, xxx. 410. ‘ The herb spragus.’ Hal. 
‘ The plant asperugo.’ Wr. We cannot identify this. 
Maudlin. (1) Balsamita vulgaris, WWidi. — In Tusser Mawdelin ; 
in Lyte Mawdelein. Prior, p. 149. 
(2) Achillea Ageratum, L. — Ger. Skinner calls it Sweet Maudlin. 
Prior, p. 149. 
Maudlinwort. Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, L. — Lyte (Maude- 
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