HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
243 
cases. The Swedes reckon it almost an universal remedy in the diseases of their 
cattle. Curculio vernale feeds principally on this plant; though sometimes on 
Urtica dioica or Lamium album. 
Barbarea. —From St. Barbary, who is said to have found out its virtues. 
Barbarea vulgaris , Bitter Winter-cress, or Yellow Rocket.—In Sweden the 
leaves are used in salads, early in Spring, and late in Autumn; also boiled as 
Cale. It is sown in gardens as an early Spring salad, and also in England, where 
it is called French Cress. With double blossoms, it frequently ornaments our 
gardens. A minute species of Tipula , or Gall-gnat, sometimes renders the flowers 
like a Hop-blossom; but this metamorphosis does not strictly partake of the 
nature of galls, as it originates not from the egg, but from the larva, which, in 
the operation of extracting the seed, in some way imparts a morbid action to the 
juices, causing the flower to expand unnaturally. 
Bartsia. —So named by Linnaeus in honour of his beloved friend. Dr. John 
Bartsch, of Konigsberg, a most ingenious young man of great promise, devoted 
to the study of Nature, and who perished untimely whilst pursuing his researches 
in Surinam, whither he was sent by the illustrious Boerhaave. This event is 
feelingly lamented by Linnaeus in his Flora Suecica , p. 211. 
Bartsia Alpina , Alpine Bartsia.—The whole plant turns quite black in drying 
especially if gathered young; and cannot be seen to advantage except in its native 
places of growth, where it makes a beautiful appearance. It occupies the loftiest 
Alps of Switzerland and Savoy. 
Bartsia viscosa , Yellow viscid Bartsia.—According to Mr. Hopkirk the flowers 
have an agreeable, faint, musky smell. 
Beilis. —From bellus , pretty; also a bello colore , from its fair colour. 
Beilis perennis , Common Daisy.—No flower has furnished such a theme to 
poets as this common interesting little plant ; yet Sir J. E. Smith observes that 
it is considered a blemish or intruder in neat Grass-plats.—Miss Kent, in her 
Flora Domestica , observes :—“ Who can see or hear the name of the Daisy, the 
common Field Daisy, without a thousand pleasurable associations ! It is con¬ 
nected with the sports of childhood and with the pleasures of youth. We walk 
abroad to seek it; yet it is the very emblem of home. Turn it all ways, and on 
every side you will find new beauty. You are attracted by the snowy white 
leaves contrasted by the golden tuft in the centre, as it rears its head above the 
green Grass : pluck it and you find it backed by a delicate star of green, and 
tipped with U blush colour, or a bright crimson. 
“ The Daisy not only closes its petals at night, but they are also carefully 
folded over the yellow disk in rainy weather; the pow r er of thus securing the 
parts of fructification being almost peculiar to plants native of humid and fickle 
climates.” 
VOL. iv. —NO. XXIX. 
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