ENGLISH PLANT NAMES. 
491 
the actual, claimant of the name in Berks (Prior), and of similar 
names elsewhere. Gerard, however, follows Lyte in assigning it to 
V. Opulus. V. Lantana, Mr. Akerman writes in ‘ Archaeologia,’ xlii. 
125, ‘ is universally known by the rustic population of the Southern, 
Midland, and Western counties by the name Whiten-tree or 
Whiten-beam ; ’ and Aubrey (Eoyal Soc. Ms. fob 137) says, ‘ In and 
about Cranbourn chace growes naturally a tree with a white leafe ; it 
is no bigger than a cherry tree ; they call it Whiting or Whitewood.’ 
Mr. Friend gives Whitney as a Dev. name for the shrub, and says, 
‘In Devonshire they have a saying, ‘^as tough as a Whitney stick,” 
and farm lads alwaj^s used to seek this wood for their rustic whips/ 
&c. Hal. has Whitten. 
Whitty. (1) A willow. Pulman. Hal. 
(2) Pyriis domestica, Sm. IForc. (Bewdley Forest) Phyt. 0. S. iv. 
1102. See Whitty Pear. 
Whitty Pear. (1) Purus domestica, Sm. Wore. (Bewdley Forest). 
‘ There was an undoubted feeling of superstitious protection attached 
to the tree, whose fruit was commonly said in the vicinity “ to keep 
out the witch” from their habitations, and for this reason they hung 
up the hard fruit, which would remain for a long time without 
decaying, in their houses. The tree is commonly called by the 
foresters Whitty, or Whitty Pear; perhaps derived from the old 
English word “witten,” to know, meaning the wise tree. They 
distinguish it from the mountain ash, which they simply call Witchen ; 
and though a protective power is attributed to a stick of that tree, yet 
the “whitty pear,” they say, is stronger.’ Phyt. 0. S. iv. 1102. 
(2) Pyrus torminalis, Sm. — Wore. 
Whitty-tree. Pyrus AucujKirici, Gaertn. — West, Hal. 
Whooping Cups. Peziza coccinea, L. — Suss., where the fungus is 
boiled as a cure for whooping-cough. 
Whortleberry. (1) Vaednium Myrtillus, L. — Lyte. S. Dev. (the 
fruit Whorts) ; Kent (Whirtleberry), E. D. S. Glloss. C. 3 ; N. Yks. 
Prior, p. 249. 
(2) Vaccinium Vitis-Idcea, L. — Lyte. 
Whorts, or Worts. (1) Vaednium Myrtillus, L. — Lyte. S. Dev. 
(the fruit only); W. Suss. Holl. ; West, Grose. See also Black 
Whorts. Prior, p. 249. 
(2) Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, L. — Lyte. (Red Whorts.) 
(3) ‘ A small blackberry.’ Hal. probably means a small, black, 
berry, in which case no doubt Vaccinium Myrtillus, and not Rubus, is 
intended. 
Whorts, Marsh. See Marsh Worts. 
Whuns. Ulejc europceus, L. — Irel. (Antrim, Down). 
Whusselwood. ‘ The alder, of which whistles are made.’ Hal. 
Is not this rather the elder, Samhucus nigra, L. ? 
Whuttle Grass. Melilotus offieinalis, Willd. — Poxh. Jamieson. 
Whya-tree. RoUiiia Pseudaeaeia, L. — Mr. E. Wood writes from 
