THEIR ATTRIBUTES ANT) NAMES. 
107 
are now sucli universal favourites in our gardens, and which, are 
mostly increased by grafting on the wild stock. Amongst its names 
are virgin’s bower, hedge-vine, climbers, old man’s beard (doubtless 
from its hair-like seed-vessels), travellers’ joy, and love (supposed 
to be so named from its habit of embracing). There are very few 
lanes in our county in which it may not be met with. The beautiful 
anemones, or wind-flowers, so called from their often growing in 
open positions fully exposed to the force of the wind, are other 
examples. Hertfordshire is very rich in species, for, in addition to 
the comparatively common Anemone nemorosa , we have the Anemone 
Pulsatilla or pasque-flower (doubtless deriving its name from its 
blooming about Easter) growing freely in the neighbourhood of 
Tring, and also found near Royston ; the lovely pale blue Anemone 
Apennina blooming near Aldenham, although it is a doubtful native ; 
and the yellow Anemone Ranunculoides occurring near Abbots 
Langley. The buttercup and lesser celandine are both very familiar 
in our neighbourhood, as elsewhere. The globe flower, although 
only found in gardens with us, is wild in Scotland, where it grows 
plentifully, and is called the locken-gowan or cabbage-daisy, from 
the shape of its flower. The Caltha , marsh-marigold, meadow- 
bouts, or kingcup, one of the most striking of British flowers, may 
be seen in the neighbourhood of almost every Hertfordshire stream. 
To the hellebores belongs the Christmas rose, which is supposed to 
be the hellebore of the ancients, so famous as a specific for madness. 
Closely allied to this genus is the earliest spring flower of our 
gardens, the winter aconite. The aquilegias, culver worts, or colum¬ 
bines, take two of their names from extremes: Aquilegia from 
Aquila, an eagle, to the claws of which its nectary or honey-vessel 
bears a fancied resemblance; whilst columbine is not named after 
the heroine of Pantomime, but from the Latin Columba, a dove, the 
nest of which bird its flowers were supposed to be like. In the 
delphiniums, or larkspurs, again, we get different origins to the 
names; Delphinium, from delphin or dolphin, to which animal a 
resemblance was traced in its upper leaf; and larkspur, from the 
spur of the flower resembling that of the lark. The aconite, 
monkshood, wolfsbane, or Venus’ car takes the name monkshood 
from the shape of the whole flower, Venus’ car from the same 
when the hood is taken off, and wolfsbane from its juice having 
been put on the points of the arrows used by the Anglo-Saxons in 
hunting the wolf. Many cases of poisoning have occurred through 
its roots having been mistaken for horse-radish. 
Berberacece. —Erom the bark of several species of the Barberry 
tribe a yellow dye has been obtained, and the berries, which are 
acid, are sometimes used for preserving. 
Nymphceaceee.- —The roots of some of the exotic species of Water- 
lilies are roasted and eaten, and in South America the seeds of the 
Victoria regia are eaten, being known as water-maize. In some 
parts, the common yellow water-lily is called brandy bottle, which 
is said to be from the flower having a slight smell of brandy, and 
the seed-vessel being not unlike a bottle in shape. 
