424 
HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
--—“ Throatwort with its azure bell,” 
as adorning the banks of the Greta, where it divides the manors of Brignell and 
Scargill. The whole plant abounds with a milky liquor. The young shoots, 
stripped of the skin, are sometimes boiled and eaten as greens. 
Campanula trachelium , Great Throatwort, Canterbury-bell, Nettle-leaved 
Bell-flower.—The bristles of the leaves are often as pungent as those of a Nettle, 
though not venomous. The name trachelium , from rpa^Aos-, the neck, alludes to 
the reputed virtues of this plant in disorders of the throat, to which the other 
appellations of old authors allude. A decoction of the herb, which is bitter and 
somewhat acrid, was formerly used as a gargle. 
Capsella. —Diminutive of capsa , a chest, or box, so named from the resem¬ 
blance of its seed-vessel. 
Capsella bursa-pastor is , Common Shepherd’s-purse.— De Candolle observes 
that this plant is much less acrid than the rest of its order, and that it is rather 
glutinous to the taste. Small birds are fond of the seeds and flowers. Sir 
James Edward Smith remarks, that it occurs in almost every part of the globe, 
and that to the various and distant countries mentioned by De Candolle, he 
could add Nepaul, from whence he had received specimens through the kindness 
of Dr. Wallich. 
Cardamine. —Kfrom the heart, and to fortify: on 
account of its supposed strengthening qualities. 
Cardamine pratensis , Meadow Ladies’-smock, Cuckoo-flower.—The flowers 
appear about the same time with the Cuckoo, whence it is called the Cuckoo¬ 
flower; and their covering the meadows as with linen spread out to bleach, is 
supposed to be the origin of the other English name, now extended to the whole 
genus. They are associated with pleasant ideas of the Spring, and join with the 
White Saxifrage, the Cowslip, Primrose, and Hare-bell, to compose many a 
rustic nosegay. Shakespere’s Cuckoo-buds are yellow, and supposed to be 
the wild Yellow Ranunculus. He expressly distinguishes his Cuckoo-buds from 
this flower-— 
“ When Daisies pied, and Violets bine. 
And Lady-smocks all silver white, 
And Cuckoo-buds of yellow hue. 
Do paint the meadows with delight.” 
Carduus. —From xt/po/, to abrade, from its roughness. Tiieis derives it from 
ard , in Celtic, a point; whence also, according to Hooker, a$os, in Greek ; 
arduus , in Latin. 
Carduus lanceolatus y Spear Thistle.—Few plants are more disregarded than 
this, and yet its use is very considerable. If a heap of Clay be thrown up, 
nothing would grow upon it for several years, did not the seeds of this plant, 
