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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
144
Many
plants,
again,
have
been
called
in
memory
of
leading
characters
in
days
gone
by,
and
after
those
who
discovered
their
whereabouts
and
introduced
them
into
European
countries.
Thus
the
fuchsia,
a
native
of
Chili,
was
named
after
Leonard
Fuchs,
a
well-known
German
botanist,
and
the
magnolia
was
so
called
in
honour
of
Pierre
Magnol,
an
eminent
writer
on
botanical
subjects.
The
stately
dahlia
after
Andrew
Dahl,
the
Swedish
botanist.
But,
without
enumerating
further
instances,
for
they
are
familiar
to
most
readers,
it
may
be
noticed
that
plants
which
embody
the
names
of
animals
are
very
numerous
indeed.
In
many
cases
this
has
resulted
from
some
fancied
resemblance
to
some
part
of
the
animal
named;
thus
from
their
long
tongued-like
leaves,
the
hart's-tongue,
lamb's-tongue,
and
ox-tongue
were
so
called,
while
some
plants
have
derived
their
names
from
the
snouts
of
certain
animals,
such
as
the
swine's-snout
(Lentodon
taraxacum),
and
calf's-snout,
or,
as
it
is
more
commonly
termed,
snapdragon
(Antirrhinum
majus).
The
gaping
corollas
of
various
blossoms
have
suggested
such
names
as
dog's-mouth,
rabbit's-mouth,
and
lion's-snap,
and
plants
with
peculiarly-shaped
leaves
have
given
rise
to
names
like
these--mouse-ear
(Stachys
Zanaia),
cat's-ears,
and
bear's-ears.
Numerous
names
have
been
suggested
by
their
fancied
resemblance
to
the
feet,
hoofs,
and
tails
of
animals
and
birds;
as,
for
instance,
colt's-foot,
crow-foot,
bird's-foot
trefoil,
horse-shoe
vetch,
bull-foot,
and
the
vervain,
nicknamed
frog's-foot.
Then
there
is
the
larkspur,
also
termed
lark's-claw,
and
lark's-heel,
the
lamb's-toe
being
so
called
from
its
downy
heads
of
flowers,
and
the
horse-hoof
from
the
shape
of
the
leaf.
Among
various
similar
names
may
be
noticed
the
crane's-bill
and
stork's-bill,
from
their
long
beak-like
seed-vessels,
and
the
valerian,
popularly
designated
capon's-tail,
from
its
spreading
flowers.
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