446 
A DICTIONARY OF 
this name. In Langham’s Garden of Health (ed. ii. p. 614), spelt 
Sparewort. 
Speedwell. A general name for Veronica Chamredriys, L. — 
S. Climb. ; Line. Prior, p. 218. Often extended to other species of 
Veronica (Ger., &c.): Lyte figures Linaria Elatine, Mill, (which was 
formerly classed with Veronica) under this name. 
Speedwell, Corn. See Corn Speedwell. 
Speedwell, Garden. See Garden Speedwell. 
Speedwell, Germander. See Germander Speedwell. 
Speerhawk. A synonym of Hawkweed, and, like it, applied to the 
species of Hieracium in general. Skinner spells it as above ; Ger. 
(Index) has ^ Sperhaulce, that is Haukeweede,’ and at p. 236 says, 
‘ These herbes tooke their name from a Hauke . . . for they are 
reported to cleere their sight by conveying the iuice heereof into 
their eies.’ 
Speke. See Spike. 
Speknel. See Spignel. 
Spelt, Spelt-com, or Spelt Wheat. (1) Triticum Spelta, L. — Lyte. 
Prior, p. 218. 
(2) ‘ Vetches. Dev.^ Hal. (Spelt-corn). 
Sperage. (1) Asparagus officinalis, L. — Grete Herball. Hal. 
Olou. Prior, p. 218. 
(2) Ornithogahim pyrenaicum, L. — ‘In Appleton meadows about 
two miles from Bristol, where the country people do gather the buds 
or young shoots, and sell them in the market at Bristol, much cheaper 
than our garden kind is sold in London.’ Camden (Britannia) j). 290. 
(3) Pliaseolus vulgaris, L. — Lyte. 
Sperte. A variety of Salix viminalis, L. — ‘The better sort thereof 
is called red sperte.'’ Lyte (p. 744), who calls another Salix ‘ the 
Sperte, or twigge Withy.’ 
Spider Plant. Saxifraga sarmentosa, L. — Dev. Friend. 
Spiderwort. The general garden name for Tradescantia virginica, L. 
Spier. See Spire (3). 
Spignel. Memn athamanticum, Jacq. — Ger. (also Spicknell). ‘ I 
neuer sawe thys herbe in Englande sauynge once at saynte Oswarldes 
where as the inhabiters called it Speknel.’ Turn. Names. Prior 
(p. 218) has also Spikenel. 
Spike. Lavandula Sgnea, DC. — Lyte. Pulman (who also has 
Speke). Hal. Dors. N. & Q,. 5th S, vii. p. 45 (Spik). Also called 
Lavender Spike : Markham’s Country Housewife’s Garden, p. 92. 
Tusser (Five Hundred Points), E. D. S. ed., p. 334. ‘Lavender and 
spf/i-e-leaves.’ Ellis’s Modern Husbandman, iii. pt. i. p. 178. 
Spike, Water. A book-name for Potamogeton natans, L., and 
allied species. ‘ In Latine .... of some Spicata ; in English fVater- 
spyke .... in French Aspf cZ’eatte.’ Lyte, p. 106. 
