474 
HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
be introduced into decoys and other places (by throwing the plants into the water 
with a weight tied to them) with good effect. 
Caucalis. — KocvkuKis, from kocvkiov, a cup, on account of the shape of the flower ; 
or perhaps corrupted from SocvkocXis . According to Hooker from kbu, to lie along? 
and xotvhos, a stem, i. e., trailing upon the ground. 
Centaurea. —From the Centaur, Chiron, who is said to have established the 
reputation of one of its species as a vulnerary, having cured himself of a wound 
accidentally received by letting one of the arrows of Hercules fall upon his 
foot. 
Centaurea cyanus , Blue-bottle, or Corn-flower, Knapweed, Hurt-sickle.—Sir 
James Edward Smith says the wild flowers afford a beautiful blue for painting 
in water-colours, the expressed juice requiring only to be mixed 'with cold alum- 
water. The same author informs us that the separate floret in ’English Botany , 
coloured with this by way of an experiment, has now stood well for thirty years. 
Varieties of different colours are commonly introduced into our gardens as hardy 
annuals. Our plant was named cyanus after a youthful devotee of Flora, whose 
chief occupation seems to have been loitering in the fields and weaving garlands 
with this and other corn-flowers; perchance occasionally permitting a truant 
thought to wander into a tender vein, though never inspiring sweeter lays than 
those of the English improvisatrice— 
“ There is a flower, a purple flower, 
Sown by the wind, nursed by the shower, 
O’er which Love has breathed a powerful spell, 
The truth of whispering hope to tell. 
Now gentle flower, I pray thee tell, 
If my lover loves me, and loves me well; 
So may the fall of the morning dew 
Keep the sun from fading thy tender blue.” 
L.E.L. 
Cenlunculus. —It appears that this name was anciently given to the Pimpernel, 
a genus allied to this; and derived, according to Theis, from cento, a covering, 
because it was a little weed that covered the cultivated fields. 
Centuncidus minimus , Small Chaff-weed or Bastard Pimpernel.—This is the 
smallest of all the British plants that have distinct flowers, the stem being hardly 
an inch high. 
Cerastium. —Diminutive of xepas, a horn, from the rather long and curved 
capsules of some species. 
Cerastium aquaticum , Marsh Mouse-ear Chickweed.—Abundant in moist 
places, and, being tender and succulent, it is not unacceptable to cattle. 
Ceratophyllum. — KspxroQvXXov, from xBpocs, kb pur os, a horn, and QvaKov, a leaf, 
from the forked leaves. 
