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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
147
Among
further
animal
prefixes
may
be
noticed
the
wolfs-bane
(Aconitum
napellus),
wolf's-claws
(Lycopodium
clavatum),
wolf's-milk
(Euphorbia
helioscopia),
and
wolfs-thistle
(Carlina
acaulis).
The
mouse
has
given
us
numerous
names,
such
as
mouse-ear
(Hieracium
pilosella),
mouse-grass
(Aira
caryophyllea),
mouse-ear
scorpion-grass
(Myosotis
palustris),
mouse-tail
(Myosurus
minimus),
and
mouse-pea.
The
term
rat-tail
has
been
applied
to
several
plants
having
a
tail-like
inflorescence,
such
as
the
Plantago
lanceolata
(ribwort
plantain).
The
term
toad
as
a
prefix,
like
that
of
dog,
frequently
means
spurious,
as
in
the
toad-flax,
a
plant
which,
before
it
comes
into
flower,
bears
a
tolerably
close
resemblance
to
a
plant
of
the
true
flax.
The
frog,
again,
supplies
names,
such
as
frog's-lettuce,
frog's-foot,
frog-grass,
and
frog-cheese;
while
hedgehog
gives
us
such
names
as
hedgehog-parsley
and
hedgehog-grass.
Connected
with
the
dragon
we
have
the
name
dragon
applied
to
the
snake-weed
(Polygonum
bistorta),
and
dragon's-blood
is
one
of
the
popular
names
of
the
Herb-Robert.
The
water-dragon
is
a
nickname
of
the
Caltha
palustris,
and
dragon's-mouth
of
the
Digitalis
purpurea.
Once
more,
there
is
scorpion-grass
and
scorpion-wort,
both
of
which
refer
to
various
species
of
Myosotis;
snakes
and
vipers
also
adding
to
the
list.
Thus
there
is
viper's-bugloss,
and
snake-weed.
In
Gloucestershire
the
fruit
of
the
Arum
maculatum
is
snake's-victuals,
and
snake's-head
is
a
common
name
for
thefritillary.
There
is
the
snake-skin
willow
and
snake's-girdles;--snake's-tongue
being
a
name
given
to
the
bane-wort
(Ranunculus
flammula).
Names
in
which
the
devil
figures
have
been
noticed
elsewhere,
as
also
those
in
which
the
words
fairy
and
witch
enter.
As
the
authors,
too,
of
the
"Dictionary
of
Plant
Names"
have
pointed
out,
a
great
number
of
names
may
be
called
dedicatory,
and
embody
the
names
of
many
of
the
saints,
and
even
of
the
Deity.
The
latter,
however,
are
very
few
in
number,
owing
perhaps
to
a
sense
of
reverence,
and
"God
Almighty's
bread
and
cheese,"
"God's
eye,"
"God's
grace,"
"God's
meat,"
"Our
Lord's,
or
Our
Saviour's
flannel,"
"Christ's
hair,"
"Christ's
herb,"
"Christ's
ladder,"
"Christ's
thorn,"
"Holy
Ghost,"
and
"Herb-Trinity,"
make
up
almost
the
whole
list.
On
the
other
hand,
the
Virgin
Mary
has
suggested
numerous
names,
some
of
which
we
have
noticed
in
the
chapter
on
sacred
plants.
Certain
of
the
saints,
again,
have
perpetuated
their
names
in
our
plant
nomenclature,
instances
of
which
are
scattered
throughout
the
present
volume.
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