HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OP BRITISH PLANTS. 
307 
lively of no value, and appears to be left untouched by every description of cattle. 
A large portion of the seeds .of this plant are yearly destroyed by a minute 
orange-coloured maggot. The seeds are also acceptable to Pheasants, Partridges, 
and smaller birds. 
Alopecurus bulbosns , Bulbous Fox-tail Grass.—This plant seems by Nature a 
meadow Grass, and Dr. Anderson suggests that, as its matted roots give an 
unusual firmness to the surface of the ground, it may be serviceable to prevent 
soft and moist soils from being poached by the feet of cattle. 
Alopecurus geniculalus , Floating Fox-tail Grass, Geniculate Fox-tail Grass.—• 
In dry situations, as on walls, &c., the leaves and stem are greatly diminished 
in size, and the roots become bulbous, with excessively long fibres. This trans¬ 
mutation has sometimes occasioned A. geniculalus to be mistaken for the real 
A. bulbosus. 
Alopecurus Alpinus , Alpine Fox-tail Grass.—This plant seems quite unknown 
to botanists abroad, and is very rare indeed in this country. It is, however, 
plentiful in North America and Spitzbergen. 
Althaea . —AA 0«/«, from atxQtu, to heal. So named from its healing qualities. 
Althaea officinalis , Marsh-mallow, Mymote.—The whole plant, particularly the 
root, abounds with mild mucilage. The root, boiled, is much used as an emollient 
cataplasm, and an infusion of it is very generally prescribed in all cases wherein 
mild mucilaginous substances are useful. Of several officinal preparations from 
this herb, the syrup alone is now retained. Mallows have not only been long 
celebrated for assuaging wounds, but were used to decorate the graves of our 
ancestors; and so indispensable were they deemed to each domicile of the living, 
that, as a matter of decided ill omen, the poet exclaims— 
w Alas, when Mallows in the garden die.” 
Algssum. —From a, neg., and Xvavx, the bite of a mad Dog; it formerly being 
considered efficacious against hydrophobia. 
Algssum maritimum , Sweet Alyssum.—It is commonly cultivated in gardens, 
for its agreeable honey-like scent; and is considered a valuable acquisition to the 
apiarian border. 
Amaranthus. —From not, and papxitu), to decay. Flowers which do not 
fade, commonly called a everlasting flowers/ 
Ammophila.— -Named from sand, and <piXos 9 a lover, on account of its 
locality. 
Ammophila arundinacea , Sea Mat-weed, Marram, Sea-reed (Starre or Bent, in 
Scotland).—This Grass grows only on the very driest sea-shores, and prevents 
the wind from dispersing the sand over the adjoining fields, which is not unfre- 
quently the case where this plant is wanting. Many a fertile acre has been 
