130 
HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
purplish. It is a very acrid plant, especially the root, whose acrimony is not 
perceived at first tasting, but soon becomes intolerable. 
Cynodon .—From Kvov, a Dog, and oSovs, a tooth. 
Cynodon dactylon , Creeping Dog’s-tooth Grass.—In the climate of Great Britain, 
the produce and nutritive powers of this Grass are insignificant, compared to the 
importance attached to them in the East-Indies. One of the most interesting 
circumstances connected with the history of this Grass, is its having been clearly 
ascertained to be the Durva , or Dub-grass of the Hindoos; respecting which Sir 
Wm. Jones observes :— 66 Its flowers, in their perfect state, are among the 
loveliest objects in the vegetable world, and appear, through a lens, like minute 
rubies and emeralds, in constant motion from the least breath of air.” Its 
usefulness, added to its beauty, induced the Hindoos, in their earliest ages, to 
believe that it was the mansion of a benevolent nymph. 
Cynoylossum. — KwoyXoaaov, from K wos, a Dog, and yXua-an, a tongue; descrip¬ 
tive of the shape of the leaves. 
Cynoylossum officinale , Great Hound’s-tongue.—The whole herb is of a dull 
green, downy, and very soft, exhaling when touched a pungent and nauseous scent, 
like that of Mice. The plant is esteemed narcotic, and dangerous for internal 
use. It is stated, that if gathered when in full vigour, bruised with a hammer, 
and laid in any place frequented by Rats and Mice, they will immediately forsake 
the premises. 
Cynosurus .— From Kwos, a Dog, and «/j«, a tail; the spike resembling a Dog’s 
tail. 
Cynosurus cristatus , Crested Dog’s-tail Grass.—The leaves of this Grass are 
shorter than those of any other pasture Grasses; but they grow very close 
together, in great abundance, and are palatable to cattle, particularly to Sheep. 
The culms are of a very wiry nature, being remarkably hard and tough ; and as 
they shoot up at a season when the leaves of all the Grasses are very plentiful, 
they are not cropped by cattle, but are suffered for the most part to perfect their 
seeds, which keep firm in the husks, and are not easily shed; and hence it is 
that in Winter, when the ground is covered with snow, we see the seed-spikes of 
this Grass above its surface, attracting groups of Partridges, Pigeons, and smaller 
birds generally, at a season when their food is scarce. The culms of this Grass 
are considered amongst the very best of the British Grasses that yield a material 
for the manufacture of plat for Leghorn bonnets and hats. 
Cyperus. —K wsigos, from hvttix^os, a little round vessel; in allusion to the form 
of the root. 
Cyperus lonyus , Sweet Cyperus, English Galingale.—The smell of the root 
of this plant is aromatic, and its taste warm and sometimes bitter, but it is now 
fallen into disuse. 
