350 
A DICTIONARY OF 
Myrtle, Candleberry. See Candleberry Myrtle. 
Myrtle, Jews’. See Jews’ Myrtle. 
Myrtle, Wild. A name suggested by Lyte for Ruscus aculeafus, L., 
from one of its Latin names, Myrtus sylvestris. In FI. Yect. it is 
called Shepberd’s Myrtle, though, this is not stated to be an Isle of 
Wight name. 
Myrtle Flag (With. ed. ii.), Myrtle-grass (Treas. Bot.), or Myrtle 
Sedge (Pratt). Book-names for Acorus Calamus, L., in allusion to 
its scent. 
Myrtle Spurge. Eu^liorhia Lathyrus, L. — A name invented by 
Turner. 
Mysterious Plant. Daphne Mezereon, L. — This is a good instance 
of the manufacture of a name and the subsequent invention of a 
suitable explanation for it. The Eev. H. N. Ellacombe, in his lecture 
on the Common English Names of Plants (Bath, 1870), says, ‘ When 
I lived in Derbyshire I was admiring a fine plant of it in a cottage 
garden, and asked the old woman what she called it. . . . She was 
ready with her answer. “We call it the mysterious plant, sir, because 
its flowers come out before its leaves.” ’ 
Nailwort. A name proposed by Ger. for (1) Dr aha verna, L,, and 
(2) Baxifraga tridactylites, L., which plants he includes in the same 
chapter. ‘ It hath been taken to heale the disease of the nailes called 
a whitlowe.’ Ger. p. 500. Prior, p. 162. 
Naked Boys. Because the flower appears without any leaves. 
(1) Colchicum autumnale, L. — Wilts. Aubrey. 
(2) Crocus nudijlorus, L. — Ches. (Gatley, where it is plentiful in the 
meadows) ; Heref. and Norf. N. & Q. 2nd S. iii. 254. In the two last 
cases (1) may be intended. 
Naked Lady, or Naked Ladies. Colchicum autumnale, L. — Hal. 
Cornw. ; Lane. (Ormskirk); Sal.; Warw. ; Wore.; Yks. ; Anglesea. 
Prior, p. 162. In N. &. Q. 2nd S. vi. 271, Stark-naked Lady. 
Naked Virgins. Colchicum autumnale, L. — Ches. 
Nancy Pretty. A corruption of None-so-pretty. Saxifraga umhrosa, 
L. — Yks. (Holderness), E. D. S. Gloss. 0, 7 ; Scotl. Jamieson. In 
Line. (Scawby) called Nancy -none-so-pretty. Prior, p. 163. 
Nancy, Sweet {Ches., Norf.), or White {dies., Staff.). The double- 
flowered garden form of Narcissus poeticus, L. — In Col. Egerton 
Leigh’s Ches. Gloss, we have ‘Wild Nancy-Narcissus;’ perhaps 
N. Pseudo-narcissus, L., is meant. 
Nanpie. Poeonia officinalis, L. — Yks. Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist. vii. 
565. 
Nap -at -Noon. (1) Tragopogon pratensis, L. — Cumh. E. D. S. 
