The Gaelic names of plants (Scottish, Irish, and Manx), collected and arranged in scientific order, with notes on their etymology, uses, plant superstitions, etc., among the Celts, with copious Gaelic, English, and scientific indices

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Gornell University Library
Ithaca, Nem York

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE

SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND

THE GIFT OF

HENRY W. SAGE

1891

Cornell Uni ity Lib:
ak Siediauil gre

plants (Scottish, Ir

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Cornell University

The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924001376171

THE GAELIC NAMES OF PLANTS.

JOHN CAMERON

THE GAELIC NAMES OF PLANTS

(SCOTTISH, IRISH, AND MANX),

COLLECTED AND ARRANGED IN SCIENTIFIC ORDER, WITH
NOTES ON THEIR ETYMOLOGY, USES, PLANT
SUPERSTITIONS, ETC., AMONG THE CELTS,

WITH COPIOUS GAELIC, ENGLISH,

AND SCIENTIFIC INDICES,

BY

JOHN CAMERON,

SUNDERLAND.

“Wuat’s IN A NAME? THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSE
By ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET.”

—Shakespeare.

NEW AND REVISED EDITION.

GLASGOW :
JOHN MACKAY, ‘‘CELTIC MONTHLY” OFFICE,
I BLYTHSWOOD DRIVE.

1900.

[All Rights Reserved.]

Fo

«TI study to bring forth some acceptable work: not striving to
shew any rare invention that passeth a man’s capacity, but to utter
and receive matter of some moment known and talked of long ago,
yet over long hath been buried, and, as it seemed, lain dead, for any

fruit it hath shewed in the memory of man.”—Churchward, 1588.

TO
THE MEMORY
OF
MY DEAR WIFE
1 DEDICATE

Dbhis Book.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

THE Gaelic Names of Plants, reprinted from a series of articles
in the ‘Scottish Naturalist,’ which have appeared during the last
four years, are published at the request of many who wish to have
them in a more convenient form. There might, perhaps, be
grounds for hesitation in obtruding on the public a work of this
description, which can only be of use to comparatively few ; but
the fact that no book exists containing a complete catalogue of
Gaelic names of plants is at least some excuse for their publication
in this separate form. Moreover, it seemed to many able botanists
that, both for scientific and philological reasons, it would be very
desirable that an attempt should be made to collect such names as
are still used in the spoken Gaelic of Scotland and Ireland, before
it became too late by the gradual disappearance of the language.
Accordingly the author undertook this task at the request of the
Editor of the ‘Scottish Naturalist,’ Dr Buchanan Whyte, F.L.S.
If the difficulties of its accomplishment had been foreseen, he
would have hesitated to make the attempt; as it is, nearly ten
years of his life have been occupied in searching through vocabu-
laries, reading Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and generally trying to
bring into order the confusion to which these names have
been reduced, partly by the carelessness of the compilers of
Dictionaries, and frequently by their botanical ignorance. To
accomplish this, numerous journeys had to be undertaken among
the Gaelic-speaking populations, in order, if possible, to settle dis-
puted names, to fix the plant to which the name was applied, and
to collect others previously unrecorded.

In studying the Gaelic nomenclature of plants, it soon became
evident that no collection would be of any value unless the Irish-
Gaelic names were incorporated. Indeed when the lists supplied
by Alexander Macdonald (Mac-Mhaighster-Alastair ), published in

viii PREFACE.

his vocabulary in 1741, are examined, they are found to correspond
with those in much older vocabularies published in Ireland. The
same remark applies, with a few exceptions, to the names of plants
in Gaelic supplied by the Rev. Mr Stewart of Killin, given in
Lightfoot’s ‘Flora Scotica.’ Undoubtedly, the older names have
been preserved in the more copious Celtic literature of Ireland; it
is certainly true that “Jn vetustd Hibernicd fundamentum habet”
the investigations of Professor O’Curry, O’Donovan, and others,
have thrown much light on this as well as upon many other Celtic
topics. The Irish names are therefore included, and spelt
according to the various methods adopted by the different
authorities ; this gives the appearance of a want of uniformity to
the spelling not altogether agreeable to Gaelic scholars, but which,
under the circumstances, was unavoidable.

It was absolutely essential that the existing Gaelic names should
be assigned correctly. The difficulty of the ordinary botanical
student was here reversed: he has the plant but cannot tell the
name—here the name existed, but the plant required to be found
to which the name applied. Again, names had been altered from
their original form by transcription and pronunciation ; it became
a matter of difficulty to determine the root word. However, the
recent progress of philology, the knowledge of the laws that govern
the modifications of words in the brotherhood of European
languages, when applied to these names, rendered the explanation
given not altogether improbable. Celts named plants often from
(x), their uses; (2), their appearance ; (3), their habitats; (4), their
superstitious associations, &c. The knowledge of this habit of
naming was the key that opened many a difficulty.

For the sake of comparison a number of Welsh names is given,
selected from the oldest list of names obtainable—those appended
to Gerard’s ‘ Herbalist,’ 1597.

The author cannot sufficiently express his obligation to numerous
correspondents in the Highlands and in Ireland for assistance in
gathering local names; without such help it would have been
impossible to make a complete collection. Notably the Rev. A.
Stewart, Nether Lochaber, whose knowledge of natural history is
unsurpassed in his own sphere; the Very Rev. Canon Bourke,
Claremorris, who gave most valuable assistance in the Irish names,
particularly in the etymology of many abstruse terms, his accurate

PREFACE, ix

scholarship, Celtic and classical, helping him over many a difficulty.
Mr W. Brockie, an excellent botanist and philologist, who some
years ago made a collection of Gaelic names of plants which was
unfortunately destroyed, placed at the author’s disposal valuable
notes and information relative to this subject; and lastly, the
accomplished Editor of the ‘Scottish Naturalist,’ who, from its
commencement, edited the sheets and secured the correct scientific
order of the whole. ;
With every desire to make this work as free from errors as
possible, yet, doubtless, some have escaped attention ; therefore,
any names omitted, any mistake in the naming of the plants, or
any other fact tending towards the further elucidation of this sub-
ject will be thankfully received for future addition, correction, or

amendment.
JOHN CAMERON.

SUNDERLAND, January, 1883.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

Tuis edition is largely extended by additional Gaelic, Irish, and
Manx names of plants, the greatest care being taken to fix the exact
scientific equivalents of the popular plant and flower names.
Many more Irish names are added, mainly from Threlkeld’s
‘Synopsis Stirpium Hibernicarum’ (1728); also Manx names from
list published in ‘Yn Lioar Manninagh,’ by Messrs. Moore, Quayle,
Ralfe, Roeder, etc. ; other names are to be found in the Manx
dictionaries, but they are not to be relied on.

With respect to the etymologies of many of the Gaelic names
the author rather suggests than maintains with much tenacity the
infallibility of the etymologies given. A book that purposes to
deal with the legends and superstitions of plants could not ignore
altogether the popular idea of the meaning of the names. Not-
withstanding the great results of recent Celtic scholarship, many
terms are obscure and impossible of explanation. Dr Murray, of
dictionary fame, in a recent speech said that the fact was, we knew
very little about etymology and the way in which words had arisen.
After the discovery of Sanskrit, it was fondly supposed that Aryan
roots existed (if they could be found) for most of our words ; but
this does not apply to all English or Gaelic words.

This book aims at giving in a condensed form as much informa-
tion as possible (regarding the subject from a Celtic point of view)
of the legends, superstitions, plant lore, uses, medicinal value, and
diffusion of the knowledge of simples among the Celtic peasantry.
Clan badges have been re-examined and determined with more
accuracy. The poetic quotations have been revised and errors
corrected, thanks to Mr Henry Whyte (the well-known Fionn of
Celtic literature), to whom the author, as well as all Gaelic
scholars, is under a deep obligation.

PREFACE. xi

With this the author finishes his study of the ‘Gaelic Names of
Plants”—a subject that has occupied his spare time for many
years.

JOHN CAMERON.

SUNDERLAND, March, rg00.

At the request of several of the subscribers, the publisher has
inserted a portrait of the author, by Mr. R. E. Ruddock,
Newcastle-on-Tyne.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Aisbitt, R., Seaham Harbour

Alder, Dr., Sunderland

Allan, William, M.P., D.L., Sunderland (2 copies)
Arnott, Mrs., Blythswood Drive, Glasgow

Barrett, F. T., for Mitchell Library, Glasgow
Biggam, William, M.A., Sunderland
Bowey, F. M., Sunderland

Breckon, J. R., Sunderland

Burgess, Captain A., Gairloch, Ross-shire
Burns, Robert J., M.R.C.S , Sunderland
Burns, William, J.P., Sunderland

Cameron, Angus, Blair-Atholl (2 copies)
Cameron, Archibald, Sunderland
Cameron, A. E., Sunderland

Cameron, C., New York, U.S.A.
Cameron, C. J., Sunderland

Cameron, D., Jersey City, U.S.A.
Cameron, Donald A., Southland, New Zealand
Cameron, E. G., Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Cameron, H. R., Sunderland

Cameron, Captain John, Fort William
Cameron, J. W., New York, U.S.A.
Cameron, Mrs., Hyde Park, London
Cameron, Paul, Pitlochrie

Cameron, Robert, M.P., London
Cameron, T., New York, U.S.A.
Campbell, Sir Duncan, of Barcaldine, Bart.
Campbell, James A., of Barbreck
Campbell, Miss S., Oude, India
Chisholm, Mrs. Maria F., of Glassburn
Christie, A., J.P., Falkirk

Clark, D., Waipahi, Otago, New Zealand

xiv LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Coates, John, Sunderland (2 copies)
Colquhoun, Sir James, of Luss, Bart.
Colquhoun, Niel Campbell, Glasgow
Corder, Alexander, Sunderland
Cowan, George, Edinburgh

Cowell, R., Sunderland

Davies, L. R., Sunderland

Dempsey, Cormac, New York, U.S.A.

Dewar, Rev. James, The Manse, Arroquhar

Duffy, James, & Co., Booksellers, Dublin

Dundee Free Library, Albert Institute (per J. Maclauchlan)

Edward Pease Library, Darlington (per William Jarrow Smith)

Fairless, Alderman, J.P., Sunderland
Farquharson, Mrs., M. R. M. S., of Houghton
Fenwick, J. C., L.R.C.P., Sunderland

Fowler, Dr., Sunderland

Gateshead Public Library (per H. E. Johnston)
Gilhome, William, Sunderland

Gordon, H. Panmure, London

Gourley, Sir Edward, M.P., Sunderland
Gowland, C. J., Sunderland

Heron, Dr. Francis, Co. Dublin
Hughes, Miss Maud, B.Sc., Holywell, North Wales

Jacks, William, LL.D., Glasgow

Joass, Rev. J. M., D.D., The Manse, Golspie

Joicey, Sir James, Bart., Longhurst, Northumberland
Kirtley, J. G., Sunderland

Key, W., Sunderland

Leeds Public Library (per Thomas W. Hand)
Limmer, Professor H., Germany

Lowe, Dr., Sunderland

Lyness, Robert C., Sunderland

Macaulay, D. J., M.D., Halifax

Mackay, Eneas, Stirling

Mackay, J. G., C.C., Portree, Skye

Mackay, Councillor William, Solicitor, Inverness

Mackenzie, Rev. D. F., M.A., M.D., Langside Free Church, Glasgow
Mackenzie, William, Church Street, Inverness

Mackenzie, W. Dalziel, of Farr

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XV

Mackerchar, John, Treasurer, Gaelic Society of London
Mackintosh, D. A. S., Bertrohill, Shettleston
Mackintosh, Duncan, Secretary, Gaelic Society of Inverness
Maclagan, R. C., M.D., Edinburgh

Maclean, Alexander Scott, M.I.M.E., Greenock
Maclennan, Rev. Malcolm, Edinburgh

Macleod, Donald, H.M.I.S., Ancaster Drive, Glasgow
Macleod, John N., Sunderland

Macleod, Murdoch D., M.D., E. Yorks

Macleod, Norman, Bookseller, Edinburgh (3 copies)
MacNeill, Nicol, Argentine Republic

NacNicol, John, Conispy, Islay

Macrae, Charles M., M.D., Stornoway

Macrae, Murdoch, Gairloch, Ross-shire
Macrae-Gilstrap, Major John, Argyllshire

Morrison, Hew, for Edinburgh Public Library

Morison, Dr. W. M., Annfield Plains

Newcastle-on-Tyne Public Library

Newcastle-on-Tyne Literary and Philosophical Society (per Henry
Richardson)

Newton, G., Bournemouth

Nicholson, John S., South Shields

Potts, Edward, Sunderland
Pierce, Ellis, Bookseller, Dolyddelen, North Wales
Pyke, J., for Public Library, South Shields

Ranken, C., F.C.S., Sunderland
Reay, John, Sunderland
Richardson, N., Sunderland
Robertson, W. J., Manchester
Robson, S., Sunderland

Rule, John, Sunderland

Sampson, Low, Marston & Co., London.
Shaw, T. E. A. A., Sunderland

Smith, Ralph, Sunderland

Steel, Thomas, J.P., Sunderland

Stewart, Colonel John Lorne, of Coll
Storey, Kelso, Sunderland

Sunderland Public Library (per B. R. Hill)

Vincent, C., Mus. Doc., New College, Oxford
Vincent, G., Sunderland
Vincent, William, Sunderland

THE GAELIC NAMES OF PLANTS.

EXOGENS.

RANUNCULACEA,

Thalictrum.—/(Oaddes, ¢hallos, a green branch).

Gaelic: rugh, ri, ruigh, Rue (or plants resembling Ruta

Trish: ruibh, } graveolens.) See Gerard.

T. alpinum.—/z ailpeach: Alpine meadow-rue.

T. minus.—z deag. Lesser meadow-rue. RUE is nearly the
same in most of the ancient languages; said to be from vw, to
flow; Gaelic—ruzth, flow, rush; their roots, especially 7: flavum,
possessing powerful cathartic qualities like rhubarb. Compare
also rz, rain, a secret, mystery, love, desire, grace. Welsh: runa,
hieroglyphics (Runic). The Thalictrum of Pliny is supposed to.
be the meadow-rue. (See Freund’s Lexicon.)

“ Oir a ta sibh a toirt deachaimh a moinnt, agus a rd, agus gach uile ghné
luibhean.’’—For ye tithes mint and rue, and all manner of herbs,

Manx: ya lossery dy ghrayse. The herb of grace, used for
sprinkling holy water.

“‘T'll set a bank of rue, sour herb of grace.” SHAKESPEARE.

The Rue of Shakespeare is generally supposed to be Ruza
graveolens (Rd géraidh), a plant belonging to another order, and
not indigenous.

Hepatica.— Dike Aubrinn (Threl), dike is written for “ Dithean”
and Audrinn for “ Abraoin” April, the April flower. It blooms
early in the Spring.

Anemone nemorosa.—Wind-flower, Gaelic: plir na gaoithe,
wind-flower (Armstrong). Welsh: Zysiau’r gwynt, wind-flower
because some of the species prefer windy habitats. Irish: ead
caillich, old woman’s nest. ead is an alteration of the old
Irish neidh, the wind; and Cazlleach, the first week in Spring—
then the wind flower begins to bloom. Manx: /us ny geayee,
wind wort.

Ranunculus,—From Latin, vana, a frog, because some of the-
A

2

species inhabit humid places frequented by that creature, or
because some of the plants have leaves resembling in shape a
frog’s foot. Ranunculus is also sometimes called crowfoot.
The Buttercup family. Gaelic: cearban, raggy, from its divided
leaves. Gair-cean, Gairghin—from gdair,a crow. Welsh: crafrange
y fran, crows’ claws. Manx: spag sfeeach, raven’s claw.

R. aquatilis—Water crowfoot. Gaelic: fleann uisge, probably
from /eanna, a spear, and wisge, water, Waterspear. Lion na
Raibhne, the river-flax. Irish: meul uisge,—neul, a star. Tuir
chis,—tuir, a lord; chis, purse (from its numerous achenes). This
plant generally grows in still water or ponds the flowers forming
a beautiful sheet of white on the surface.

R ficaria—Lesser celandine. Gaelic: grain-aigein, that which
produces loathing. Irish: gran arcain; gran, grain; arc, a pig.
Searraiche (Armstrong), according to O'Reilly, Searraigh. Welsh:
toddedig wen, fire dissolvent; todd, melt, dissolve. This little
buttercup, oftener called the “‘pilewort,” is one of our earliest
flowers. Its roots are still used as a cure for piles, corns, &c.

R. flammula—Spearwort. Gaelic: g/as-deun—glas, green ; /eun,
a swamp. Lasair-leana—lasair,a flame, and /eana or /eun, a
swamp, a spear. Welsh: d/aer y guaew, lance-point. Manx—
lus y binjey, rennet wort. It was one of the plants formerly used
for curdling milk. Zus sheig. (In Scotch Gaelic, s/eagh, a spear.)

R. Auricomus—Goldilocks. Gaelic: fol/asgain; probably from
follais, conspicuous. Irish: foloscain, a tadpole. The Gaelic
may be a corruption from the Irish, or w7e versd; also gruag
Mhuire, Mary’s locks.

R. repens—Creeping crowfoot. Gaelic: duigheag, the yellow
one. Irish: dairgin, more frequently dairghin, a pilgrim's habit.
Learban—fearba, killing, destroying. The whole of this family
are full of acrid, poisonous juices.

R. acris—Upright meadow crowfoot. Gaelic: cearban fedir,
the grass rag. Irish: the same name. This plant and 2. flam-
mula were used in the Highlands, applied in rags (cearban), for
raising blisters,

R. Bulbosus—Bulbous crowfoot. Gaelic: fwile (sometimes
tuile) thalmhuinn, blood of the earth (it exhausts the soil).

3
R. Sceleratus—Celery-leaved crowfoot. Gaelic and Irish:

torachas biadhain ; probably means food of which one would be
afraid.

Caltha palustris—Marsh marigold. Gaelic: a chorrach shod,
the clumsy one of the marsh. Threlkeld has ‘‘corr a h’ot” applied
to the bog bean (Menyanthes). Lus bhuidhe Bealltuinn, the
yellow plant of Beltane or May—Je/ or Baad, the sun-god, and
teine, fire. The name survives in many Gaelic names—e.g., Zudlt-
beltane, the high place of the fire of Baad.

“* Beith a’s calltuinn latha-Beal/tuinn.” MACKAY.
Birch and hazel first day of May.
Bearnan. Bealltuinn. The orbicular leaves are notched. Irish:
plubairsin from plubrach, plunging. Lus Mairi, Marywort,
Marygold. Manx: Blughtyn. Lus airh, gold weed, used as a
charm against fairies and witches.

Helleborus viridis.—Green hellebore. Gaelic: edebor, a corrup-
tion of helleborus (from the Greek éAAé, elein, to cause death;
and Bopos, doros, food—poisonous food). Dathabha, O' Reilly,
Dahough (Threlkeld), and Dahou ban (Threl)—dropwort. These
three names, though differently spelt, evidently refer to something
common to the plants so named, the predominant quality being
‘that they are all violently poisonous. The “hellebore” was used
by the ancient Celts to poison the arrows, and the “dropwort” to
avenge their enemies by poison. Daz colour has not anything to
do with the names. More probably dazh or dd¢h to burn, to seize,
and, in Irish Gaelic, dattheoir, an avenger. Many plants of the
hellebore family are noted for producing blisters, and were formerly
used for that purpose. Manx: 4/aa Wolic, Christmas flower.

H, foetidus——Stinking hellebore. AZeacan sleibhe, the hill-plant.

Aquilegia vulgaris—Columbine. Gaelic: /us a’ cholamain, the
-dove’s plant. Irish: cvuba-leisin—tfrom cruda, crouching, and /ezse,
thigh or haunch; suggested by the form of the flower. Lusan
stholam (O'Reilly), pigeon’s flower. Welsh: ¢roed y glomen, naked
woman’s foot. Manx: /us yn ushtey vio, plant of the living water.

Aconitum napellus—Monkshood. Gaelic: /uath mhadhaidh
(Shaw), the wolf’s aversion. Cuzvrachd manaich (Armstrong),
monkshood. Welsh: ddeiddag—from 4d/eidd, a wolf, and ‘Zag,
choke.

4

Nigella damascena—Chase-the devil. Gaelic: /us an fhograidh,.
the pursued plant. Irish: Jus mhic Raonazl, MacRonald’s wort..
Not indigenous, but common in gardens.

Peeonia officinalis—Peony. Gaelic: /us a phione. A corruptiom
of Fon, the physician who first used it in medicine, and cured!
Plato of a wound inflicted by Hercules. Welsh: d/adeu'r brenin,
the king’s flower. Irish: lus phoine. Meacan casa beanine,
female peony; and meacan easa firine, male peony. Old
herbalists used to distinguish between two varieties of the peony,
and named them male and female. This was a mere fanciful
distinction, and had no reference to the real functions of the
stamens and pistils of plants; but yet there existed a vague idea
from time immemorial that fecundation was in some degree
analogous to sexual relationship, as in animals—hence such
allusions as “ Zarbh coille,” “ Dair na colle,” etc. (‘Wood bull,”
“Fecundation of the wood.”)

BERBERIDACE#.

Berberis vulgaris—Barberry. Gaelic: darérag (a corruption:
from Arabic darddris, the barberry tree. Preas nan geur dhearc,
the sour berry-bush. Preas dei/gneach, the prickly bush. Irish:
barbrog.

NYMPHACE&.
(From vupdij, nymphe, a water-nymph, referring to their habitats.)-

Nymphea alba—White water-lily Gaelic: duileag bhaite bhan,.
the drowned white leaf. Cuzrinin (O'Reilly).
**Feur lochain is tachair,
An cinn an duilleag bhaite.” MACINTYRE.
Water, grass, and alge,
Where the water-lily grows.
“O ili, righ nam fltran.”—MACDONALD.
O lily, king of flowers.
Bior ros, meaning water rose. Rabhagach, giving caution or
warning; a beacon. Lzéi bhan, white lily. Welsh: Liti-r-dw/fr,
water-lily. Irish: dué//ite (Shaw).

Nuphar luteum.—Yellow water-lily. Gaelic: duilleag bhaite:
bhuidhe, the yellow drowned leaf. Lili bhuidhe’n uisge, yellow
water-lily. Irish: /ach doghar, the bright flag. Cabhan abhainn—-
cabhan, a hollow plain; and aéhainn, of the river.

5

PAPAVERACEA,

Papaver rhoeas—Poppy. Gaelic: mei/bheag, sometimes Jei/bheag,
a little pestle (to which the capsule has some resemblance).

“Le meilbheag, le nedinean, ’s le slan-lus.”—MAcLEOD.
With a poppy, daisy, and rib-grass.

JLothros, corn-rose—from ioth (Irish), corn; 7ds, rose. Cromlus,
‘bent weed. Paipean ruadh—ruadh, red; and paipean a corruption
of papaver, from papa, pap, or pappo, to eat of pap. The juice
was formerly put into children’s food to make them sleep. Welsh:
pabi, Irish: dlath nam bodaigh, old men’s flower. Cathleach-
dearg (O'Reilly). Cochcifoide (Shaw). Corn poppy. Welsh:
diygad y cythraul, the devil’s eye. Cathleach may perhaps be
connected with cath/unn corn and dearg red, but Shaw’s name is
altogether dubious and meaningless.

P. somniferum—Common opium poppy. Gaelic: codalian,
from codal or cadal, sleep. Collaidin ban, white poppy.

P. nigram sativum—/aipean dubh, black poppy. Manx:
lus y chadlee, the plant for sleep.

Chelidonium majus—Common celandine (a corruption of
xeddav, chelidon, a swallow). Gaelic: an ceann ruadh, the red
head. The flower is yellow, not red. Irish: /acha cheann ruadh,
the red-headed duck. Welsh: “sie y wennol, swallow-wort.
Aonsgoch is another Gaelic name for swallow-wort, meaning
‘swallow-flower—aon, a swallow; and sgoth, a flower. Scotch
‘Gaelic name for a swallow, azn/ag. Manx: lus y ghollan gheayee,
‘swallow herb, formerly used by herbalists as a cure for cancer.

Glaucium luteum—Yellow horned poppy. Gaelic: darrag
ruadh (?), the valiant or strong head. The flower is yellow, not
red.

FUMARIACEZ.
(From fumus, smoke. ‘The smoke of these plants being said
by the ancient exorcists to have the power of expelling evil
Spirits” (Jones) French: fume terre.

Fumaria officinalis—Fumitory. Gaelic: dus deathach thalmhuinn
Armstrong), the earth-smoke plant. Irish: deatach thalmhuinn
(O’Reilly), earth-smoke. Welsh: mwg y ddaer, earth-smoke. The
allusion being to tre disagreeable smell of the plant when burning.
Another Irish name is caman scarraigh (O’Reilly)—caman, crooked,

6

and scaradh, to scatter. Fuaim an ¢’Siorraigh, a humorous play
on the words “fumaria officinalis.” Manx: booa-ghodayn. Main
tenagh (Threl)—It is difficult to know the meaning implied in this.
peculiar name. By main is probably meant magh, a field; and
by éexagh, our word eine, fire. The field fire, instead of ‘‘earth
smoke.” It grows often in potato and cornfields, with small
emerald leaves and pink flowers. A variety of it grows frequently
on old thatched roofs, having long fragile stems and small whitish
flowers, and is known in some places by the names of Fliodh an
tugha and Fliodh mor—( Corydalis claviculata).

CRUCIFERA.
(From Latin crux, cructs, a cross; and fevo, to bear, the petals
being arranged crosswise). Wallflowers and stocks are examples.
of this order.

Crambe maritima—Seakale. Gaelic: praiseag tragha, the shore
pot-herb—from the Irish prazseach, Gaelic praiseag, a little pot (a
common name for pot-herbs). Ca/ na mara, sea-kale (from
Greek, xavdos; Latin, cau/is; German, fokl; Saxon, cawl,;
English, cole or kale, Irish, caZ; Welsh, caz/; Manx, caal hraie,
shore kale.

Isatis tinctoria—Woad. The ancient Celts used to stain their
bodies with a preparation from this plant. Its pale-blue hue was.
supposed to enhance their beauty, according to the fashion of the
time. Gaelic: guzvmean, the blue one Irish and Gaelic: g/as
dus, pale-blue weed. Welsh: g/as /ys. Formerly called Glastum.

“Ts glas mo luaidh.”—OssIAN.
Pale-blue is the subject of my praise.
On account of the brightness of its manufactured colours, the
Celts called it gazed (guede in French to this day (whence the
Saxon zwad and the English woad.

Thlaspi arvense—Penny-cress. Gaelic: pratseach féidh, deer’s.
pot-herb. Irish: preaseach fiadh, a deer’s pot-herb

Capsella Bursa-pastoris—Shepherd’s purse. Gaelic: /us na
Jola, the blood-weed; ax sporan, the purse. Irish: svaidin, a
spark or star. Welsh: pwrs y dugail, shepherd’s purse (dugail,
from Greek (vxdAos, a shepherd).

Cochlearia officinalis—Scurvy grass. Gaelic: am maraich.
Latin: amarus, bitter. Carran, the thing for scurvy, possessing:

7

antiscorbutic properties. “Plaigh na carra,” the plague of leprosy
(Stuart), “Dune aig am bheil carr,” a man who has the scurvy
(Stuart in Lev.) Manx: /us-y-vinniag, pinch herb. Kelly explains
“minniag” or “minniag merrin” as that lividity called dead men’s
nips or pinches, which is no more than the symptoms of scurvy.
Welsh: mor dwyau, sea-spoons; dlysie’r biwg, scurvy-grass (from
blwg, scurvy). Irish: dcolair tragha—biolair, dainty; and ¢ragha,
shore or sea-shore. It grows also on mountain tops.

Armoracia rusticana ( Avmoracia, a name of Celtic origin, “from
ar, land; mor or mar, the sea; ris, near to).” This derivation is
doubtful. English: 4orse-radish. Gaelic: meacan each, the horse-
plant. Irish: racada/, perhaps the same as rotecal, Scotch:
rotcoll (Macbain).

Raphanus raphanistrum—Radish. Gaelic: meacan ruadh, the
reddish plant, from the colour of the root. Irish: fadh roidis,
wild radish. Razdis (Armstrong). Curran dhearg (O'Reilly), the
red root.

R. maritimus—Sea radish. Irish: meacan ragum usce (O’Reilly).
Raibhe—radish, from Latin raphanus.

Cardamine pratensis—Cuckoo flower, ladies’ smock. Gaelic:
plur na cubhaig, the cuckoo-flower. Gleoran, from gleofe, hand-
some, pretty. The name is given to other cresses as well. Biolair-
ghriagain, the bright sunny dainty.

Cakile maritimum—Sea gilly-flower rocket. Gaelic: fearsaid-
eag,; meaning uncertain, but probably from Irish saide, a seat
(Latin, sedes), the sitting individual—from its procumbent habit.
Gearr bochdan.

Nasturtium officinalis—-Water-cress. Gaelic: d7o/air, a dainty,
or that which causes the nose to smart, hence agreeing with
nasturtium (Latin: nasus, the nose, and fortus, tormented. Durlus
—dur, water, and dus, plant. Dobhar-lus—dobhar, water. Welsh:
berwyr dwfr, water-cress. The Gaelic and Irish bards used these
names indefinitely for all cresses.

‘Sa bhiolair luidneach, shliom-chluasach.
Glas, chruinn-cheannach, chaoin ghorm-neulach ;
Is i fas glan, uchd-ard, gilmeineach,
Fuidh barr geal iomlan, sonraichte.”—MACINTYRE.

8

Its drooping, smooth, green, round-leaved water-cress growing so radiantly,
breast-high, trimly ; under its remarkably perfect white flower.
“Dobhrach bhallach mhin.”—MAcINTYRE.
Smooth-spotted water-cress.”
Biorar—BiorS heir, water-cress. Bior, water. Welsh: Berwr y
adwr. Berwr, cress; dwr, water. Biolar Frang—French cress or
garden cress.

A curious old superstition respecting the power of this plant as
a charm to facilitate milk-stealing was common in Scotland and
Ireland. ‘Not long ago, an old woman was found, on a May
morning, at a spring well, cutting the tops of water-cresses with a
pair of scissors, muttering strange words, and the names of certain
persons who had cows, also the words—“’ S deamsa leth do chuid-
sa” (half thine is mine). She repeated these words as often as
she cut a sprig, which personated the individual she intended to
rob of his milk and cream.” ‘Some women make use of the root
of groundsel as an amulet against such charms, by putting it
amongst the cream.”—-Martin. Among the poorer classes, water-
cress formed a most important auxiliary to their ordinary food.
“Tf they found a plot of water-cresses or shamrock, there they
flocked as to a feast for the time.” SPENCER.

Sisymbrium sophia—Flixweed. Gaelic: fimeal Mhuire, the
Virgin Mary’s fennel. Welsh: piddys, pipe-weed. Manx: Zus-y-
Jtargey, flux-herb, used for curing flux. Flux was a terrible
scourge in Britain and the Isle of Man in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries.

Erysimum alliaria and officinalis—Garlic mustard, sauce alone.
Gaelic: garbhraitheach, rough, threatening. Garrleach colluid,
hedge garlick. Manx: mustard chleigee, hedge mustard

Cheiranthus cheiri—Wallflower, gilly-flower. Gaelic: lus leth
an t-samhraidh, half the summer plant. Irish: the same Welsh:
bloden gorphenaf, July flower or gilly-flower. Wedgewood says
gilly-flower is from the French grofiée. Manx: baa yn eail Eoin,
the flower of St. John’s Feast.

Matthiola incana—Stock. Pincin (O'Reilly). The “Queen
Stock ” of the gardens, well known to every one.

Brassica rapa—Common turnip. Gaelic, zeup,; Irish, netp ;
Welsh, maipen; Scotch, neep (and navew, French, navet),; corrup-
tions from Latin napus.

9

B. campestris—Wild navew. Gaelic: meup fhiadhain, wild
‘turnip.

B. oleracea—Sea-kale or cabbage. Gaelic and Irish: prazseach
bhaidhe, the pot-herb of the wave (éaidhke, in Irish, a wave).
Morran—mor (Welsh), the sea, its habitat the seaside. Cal
olbhairvt—the kale with stout fleshy stalks (from colbf, a stalk of
a plant, and av¢, flesh), ca/ or cadhal. Welsh: caw/, kale. Gaelic:
.cal-cearslach (cearslach, globular), cabbage; cal gruidhean (with
grain like flowers), cauliflower ; co/ag (a little cabbage), cauliflower ;
_garadh cail, a kitchen garden. Rotheach tragha (O'Reilly).

‘©?Dh ’itheadh biolair an fhuarain
°S air bu shuarach an cdl.”—MACDONALD.
That would eat the cress of the wells,
And consider kale contemptible.

Sinapis arvensis—Charlock, wild mustard. Gaelic: marag
bhuidhe or amharag, from amh, raw or pungent. Sceallan—sceall,
_ashield. Sgealag (Shaw)—sgealpach, biting. Mustard—from the
English. ‘

‘Mar ghrdinne de shlol mustaird.”’—STUART.
Like a grain of mustard-seed.
‘The mustard of Scripture, “Sa/vadora persica,” was a tree twenty
feet high, therefore it could not be our mustard. Cas or Gas-
na conachta (O'Reilly). Cas an thunnagta (Threl). Gaelic:
praiseach garbh, the rough pot-herb.

Subularia aquatica—Ruideog is given by O’Donovan “as
bogawl, a kind of butterweed growing in bogs (County of
Monaghan).” Awl wort. May possibly be from the old Irish
name vuif, a dart or short spear. , It is a small plant found in
‘shallow edges of alpine ponds and lakes. It rarely exceeds two
-or three inches in height, leaves cylindrical, slender, and pointed
like little awls, hence the name awl wort.

RESEDACEZ.
Reseda luteola—Weld, yellow weed. Gaelic: lus buidhe mor,
the large yellow weed. Irish: duidhe mor, the large yellow.
Welsh: Zyste Ziiu, dye-wort. Reseda, from Latin resedo.

CISTACEA.
(From Greek «tory, Riste, a box or capsule, from ,their peculiar
capsules. Latin: cista Gaelic: ciste. Danish: iste.)

ite)

Helianthemum vulgare—Rock-rose. Gaelic: gvian rds, sun-
rose; plilr na gréine, flower of the sun (also heliotrope). Welsh:
blodaw’r haul, sun-flower,

Badge of the Clan Fergusson.

VIOLACEZ.
(From Greek iov, zon, a violet-—the food given to the cow, Io,
one of Jupiter’s mistresses.)

Viola odorata—Sweet violet. Gaelic: /ail-chuach, scented
bowl]; faz/e, scent, and cwach, a bowl hollow as a nest; also cuckoo.
Scotch: guaich, cogie (dim.), a drinking-cup. Manx: daa villish,
sweet bloom.

“ Faile chuachaig ar wachdar an fheoir.” —MACFARLANE.
Scented violet on the top of the grass.
V. canina—Dog-violet. Gaelic: dai? chuach, field-bowl (dazd,.
a field). Danish: dad, a valley.
‘*Gun sobhrach gun dail chuach,
Gun lus uasal air carn.” —MACINTYRE.

.

Without primrose or violet,
Or a gay flower on the heap.

Sail chuach—sail, a heel (from its spur), cuckoo’s heel.
“ Coille is guirme sail chuach.”—OLD SONG.
A wood where violets are bluest.

Irish: d1odh a leithid, the world’s paragon; also fanazsge, probably
from fann, weak, faint, agreeing in meaning with the Welsh name
crinilys, a fragile weed.

V. tricolor—Heart’s-ease pansy. Irish: goirmin searradh,
spring blue. Gaelic: spdg, no brig na cubhaig, cuckoo’s claw or
shoe. Manx: kiwnid fea ash chree, heart’s ease.

DROSERACEZ.
(From Greek dpocepés, droseros, dewy, because the plants appear
as if covered with dew).

Drosero rotundifolia—Round-leaved sundew. Gaelic: vds an
?’solats, sun-rose or flower; geald-ruidhe or dealt ruaidhe, very red
dew; Jus an Earnaich. “Earnach” was the name given to a
‘distemper among cattle, caused by eating a poisonous herb—some-
say the sun-dew. Others, again, aver the sun-dew was an effectual
remedy. Thi§ plant was much employed among Celtic tribes for
dyeing the hair. Irish: e7? driichd (e7/, to rob, and driichd, dew)

It

the one that robs the dew); dviichdin mona, the dew of , the hill.
Manx: @us-y-drilight. Welsh: doddedig rudd—dodd, twisted
thread, and rudd red, the plant being covered with red hairs.
Drichd na muine, the dew of the hill. Gil driugh (Threl)—Our
word, gi//e,a lad, a servant; and drichd, dew. This interesting
little plant is very common in the Highlands, growing among the
white bog moss (sphagnum). It has little red spoon-like leaves,
with red hairs, and always covered with dew drops. It grows and’
lives on small black insects, which are grasped and absorbed by’
the leaves.
POLYGALACEZ.
(From Greek roAv, oly, much; and yada, gala, milk).

Polygala vulgaris—Milk-wort. Gaelic: Jus a’ bhainne, milk-
wort. Irish: Zwsan bainne, the same meaning, alluding to the
reputed effects of the plants on cows that feed upon it.

CARYOPHYLLACEZ.

Saponaria officinalis—Soapwort, bruisewort. Lus an ?siabuinn.
The whole plant is bitter, and was formerly used to cure
cutaneous diseases. Welsh: sedond/ys, the same meaning (sebon,
soap). Manx: drellish heabinagh (brellish—wort). Soap wort.
Latin sapo, so called probably because the bruised leaves produce

lather like soap. Soap was a Celtic invention.
** Procdest et safo. Gallorum hoc inventum.
Rutilandis capillis, ex sevo et cinere.”—PLINY.
‘* Soap is good—that invention of the Gauls—for reddening the hair out of
grease and ash.”

Lychnis flos-cuculi—Ragged Robin. Gaelic: pir na cubhaig,
the cuckoo flower ; currachd na cubhaig, the cuckoo’s hood ; caorag
Zeana, the marsh spark.

L. diurna—Red campion. Gaelic: cirean corlich, cockscomb;
in some places corcan coille, red woodland flower.

L. githago—Corn-cockle. Gaelic: drd¢ na cubharg, the cuckoo’s
shoe. Lus lotbheach, stinking weed. Jothros, corn rose. Irish:
cogall,* from coch (Welsh), red; hence cock/e. French: cogudlle.
Welsh: gzth, cockle or its seed, a corruption from gi/hago, or
vice versa,

Spergula arvensis—Spurrey. Gaelic: c/wain ln (also corran lin)
—cluain, fraud, and fim, flax—dze., fraudulous flax. Carran,

1 This plant is sometimes called currachd na cubhaig, and cochal—(hood or
cowl). Latin: cucullus.

12

‘twisted or knotted, from ars, rough (Macbain). Scotch: yarr.
Trish: cabrois—cab, a head; rots, polished. Manx: carran.
“Gun deanntag, gun charran ”—MACDONALD.
Without nettle or spurrey.

Arenaria alsine—Sandwort. Gaelic: ge, perhaps from /ége,
water, growing in watery or sandy places.

Stellaria media—Chickweed. Gaelic: jfodh, an excrescence
(Armstrong), sometimes written fu¢h. Irish: Za, wetting (Gaelic:
fiuich, wet); compare also floch, soft (Latin: flaccus). Welsh:
gwlydd, the soft or tender plant. Manx: jg.

S. holostea—The greater stitchwort. Gaelic: tirseach, sad.
dejected. Irish: svrsarrain, the same meaning; and Stellaria
graminea, /rsarranin, the lesser stitchwort. Welsh: y wenn-
-wlydd, the fair soft stemmed plant, from gwen and gw'ydd, soft
tender stem.

Cherleria sedoides—Mossy cyphel, found plentifully on Ben
Lawers. No Gaelic name, but sedrsa coinich, a kind of moss.

Cerastium alpinum—Mouse-eared chickweed. Gaelic: cluas

.an luch, mouse-ear.
LINACE&.

Linum usitatissimum—Flax. Gaelic: /on, gen. singular, Zin.
Welsh: in, “Greek Aivoy and Latin “num, a thread, are derived
from the Celtic.”—Loupon.

“Jarraidh i olann agus Zton,””—STuART (Job).
She will desire wool and flax.
‘¢ Méirle salainn ’s méirle frois,
Méirl’ o nach fhaigh anam clos ;
Gus an teid an t-iasg air tir,
Cha ’n fhaigh méirleach an iz clos.”

“This illustrates the great value attached to salt and lint,
‘especially among a fishing population, at a time when the duty on
-salt was excessive, and lint was cultivated in the Hebrides.”
Sheriff NicoLson.

L. catharticum—Fairy flax. Gaelic: on na mand sith, fairy
woman’s flax; mosach, monthly, from a medicinal virtue it was
‘supposed to possess; mzonach, bowels; dus caolach, slender weed ;
compare also cao/an, intestine (Latin: colon, the large intestine).
Both names probably allude to its cathartic effects. Stuart, in
Lightfoot’s “Flora,” gives these names in a combined form—an

13

caol miosachan, the slender monthly one. Irish: ceolagh ; ceol,.
music. ‘It’s little bells made fairy music.”
MALVACE.

Latin: malve, mallows. Gaelic: malotmh, from Greek paddxn,
matache, soft, in allusion to the soft mucilaginous properties of the-
plants.

‘A gearradh sios maloimh laimh ris na preasaibh, agus freumhan aiteil mar

bhiadh.”—StTuart (Job. xxx. 4).
‘*Who cut up madlows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.”

Welsh: meddalat, what softens. Gaelic: mi? mheacan, honey-
plant; gropazs or grobais (Macdonald) from Gothic, gvob, English,
grub, to dig. The roots were dug, and boiled to obtain mucilage..

Malva rotundifolia—Dwarf mallow. Gaelic and Irish: ucas
Frangach— ucas from Irish uc, need, whence uchd, a breast (Greek,
6x n—the mucilage being used as an emollient for breasts—and
Frangach, French—i.e., the French mallow.

M. sylvestris—Common mallow. Gaelic: ucas fiadhain, wild
mallow. Manx: Lus na meala mor, lus ny maol Moirrey, Mary’s
servant’s plant. The common mallow was probably distinguished
by the word ‘“éég,” in Manx little, and the large one, /avatera’
arborea, by “mor,” big.

Altheea officinalis—Marsh-mallow. Gaelic and Irish: Zamhadh,.
perhaps from /eamhach, insipid; fochas, itch, a remedy for the-
itch (ochas, itch). Welsh: morhocys—mor, the sea, and hocys,
phlegm-producer, it being used for various pulmonary complaints.
Welsh: Ros mall.

TILIACEZ.

Tilia europea—Lime-tree, linden. Gaelic: craobh thetle. Trish:

crann tetle—teile,a corruption from ¢éia. Welsh: pis gwydden.
HYPERICACE.

Hypericum perforatum—-The perforated St. John’s wort.
Gaelic and Irish: eala bhuidhe (sometimes written eala bhi), pro-
bably from ea/ (for neu), aspect, appearance, and bdbhuidhe or bhi,

yellow.
“¢ Sobhrach a’s eala bhi’s barra neoinean.”—MACINTYRE.
Primrose, St. John’s wort, and daisies.
** An eala bhuidhe ’san neoinean ban
°S an t’sobhrach an gleann fas, nan luibh
Anns am faigheadh an leighe liathe
Furtach fiach, do chreuch a’s lebn.”—-CoLLaTH.
In the glen where the St. John’s wort, the white daisy, and the primrose -
grow, the grey doctor will find a valuable remedy for every disease and wound..

14

“ The belief was common among the Caledonians that for al]

the diseases to which mankind is liable, there grows an herb
somewhere, and not far from the locality where the particular
-disease prevails, the proper application of which would cure
it.” MACKENZIE.
Allas Mhuire (Mhuire, the Virgin Mary; aé/as, perhaps another
form of the preceding names)—Mary’s image, which would agree
with the word Aypericum. According to Linnaeus, it is derived
from Greek vrép, uper, over, and eixy, eckon, an image—that is
to say, the superior part of the flower represents an image.

Caod aslachan Cholum chille, from Colum and cil/ (church, cell),
‘St. Columba’s flower, the saint of Iona, who reverenced it and
carried it in his arms (caod)—(Irish), caodam, to come, and aslachan,
arms, it being dedicated to his favourite evangelist, St. John.
Seud, a jewel. Lus an fhograidh. “Formerly it was carried about
by the people of Scotland as a charm against witchcraft and
enchantment” (Don). Welsh: y /endigaid, the blessed plant.
French: foute-saine. English: tu¢san. The St. John’s wort is the
“fuga demonum,” which Martin describes in his ‘Western Isles.”
“John Morrison, who lives in Bernera (Harris) wears the plant
called “Sewd” in the neck of his coat to prevent his seeing of
visions, and says he never saw any since he first carried that plant
about with him.” Children have a saying when they meet this

plant—
“Luibh Cholum Chille, gun sireadh gun iarraidh,

"Sa dhedin Dia, cha bhasaich mi ’nochd.”’
St. Columbus-wort, unsought, unasked, and, please God, I won’t die to-night.
The Manx name “‘/us-y-chiolg” (Stomach herb) was used for low
spirits and nervousness. The roots were scalded in butter milk to
remove freckles. O'Reilly has also Beachnuadh beinionn, female
St. John’s wort.

The badge of Clan Mackinnon.

H. quadrangulum—SquarestemmedSt. John’swort. Beachnuadh
Jfirionn (Threl), male St. John’s wort (see Peonia).

H. androsemum—Tutsan, meastork keeil (Threl).

H. elodes—The marsh measaturk alta (Threl), the marsh St.
John’s wort, meaning the wood hog’s fruit, and the stream hog’s
fruit. The first is one of the most beautiful of the St. John’s
worts. It grows in the Highlands from Ross southwards—pretty
frequent about Loch Salen and other places in Argyllshire. If

the yellow tops be bruised between the fingers, they will immedi-
-ately communicate a deep crimson stain, hence the Greek name
androsemum—man's blood. The association of the Irish names
-with hogs is accounted for by the fact that the bruised plant smells
strongly of swine. The Welsh name has the same meaning—
aail y twrch. Threlkeld gives both names to the Tutsan,
the second name is more applicable to the water or bog St.
John’s work. The former never grows in watery places, but the
latter always does, and besides, it is very common in Ireland. In
Ulster it is called, according to Threlkeld, donan leane (Lean, a
swamp), and caochrain curraith—(currach, a marsh), and caoch, a
nut without a kernel. The old herbalist spells his names variously.

ACERACEA,
“Acer, in Latin meaning sharp, from ac, a point, in Celtic.”—Du
THEIS).

Acer campestris—Common maple. Gaelic and Irish: craobh
mhalip or malpais; origin of name uncertain, but very likely
‘from mad, a satchel or a husk, from the form of its samara. Some
think the name is only a corruption of maple—Anglo-Saxon, mapal,
Welsh: masarnen. Gothic: masloenn (from mas, fat), from its
abundance of saccharine juice.

A. pseudo-platanus—Sycamore. Gaelic and Irish: craobh sice,
.a corruption from Greek sycaminos. The old botanists erroneously
believed it to be identical with the sycamine or mulberry-fig of
Palestine.

‘Nam biodh agaidh creidhimh, theireadh sibh ris a chvaobh shicamin so,
‘bi air do spionadh as do fhreumhaibh.”—Stuarr.

If ye had faith ye might say to this sycamore tree, Be thou plucked up by
the root.—St. Luke, xvii. 6.

Croabh pleantrinn, corruption of platanus or plane-tree. Irish:
crann ban, white tree. Fir chrann (O’Reilly), same meaning. (fir,
fair, white).

The badge of the Clan Oliphant.

VINIFERZ,

Vitis (from the Celtic gwyd, a tree,a shrub. Spanish: v/a.
French: vigne).

Vitis vinifera—Vine. Gaelic: crann jiona, fionan: Irish: jion,
wine. Greek: Oxvos. Latin: winum. ion dearc, a grape.
Muin, the vine, also 47, Gaelic alphabet.

16

‘*Is mise an fhionazn fhior,
I am the true vine.—John xv. 1.
The wild grapes are bitter, and frequently putrid. The reference
in Isaiah v. 2 is to the wild grape.
‘* Agus dh’ amhairc e dh’ fheuchainn an tugadh e mach dearcan fiona, agus

thug e mach dearcan fiadhain.”
And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild’

grapes.
The dried fruit raisins is mentioned in 1 Samuel, xxv. 18—

*‘ Agus ceud bagaide do fhion dhearcaibh tiormaichte.”
And a hundred clusters of raisins (dried berries).

GERANIACEZ.
(From Greek yépavos, geranos, a crane. The long beak that ter--
minates the carpel resembles the bill of a crane; English: crane-
bill. Gaelic: crob priachain (Armstrong), the claw of any
rapacious bird). Lvs-gnd-ghorm. (Mackenzie). Evergreen plant..

Geranium Robertianum—Herb Robert. Gaelic and Irish:
righeal cuil (from righe, reproof, and cuz/, fly, gnat, insect), the fly
reprover. zaghal cuil, also rial chutl, that which rules insects;
earbull righ (earbull, a tail).

‘«TInsects are said to avoid it.”—Don.
Ruidel, the red-haired. Lus an eallan, the cancer weed. Righeal
righ. Irish: righean righ, that which reproves a king (righ, a
king), on account of its strong disagreeable smell). Manx: Zus ny
Freeinaghyn-vooarey, the big pins’ herb, from its long carpels : a
cure for sore mouth and eyes. Welsh: ¢roedrydd, redfoot. Liysie
Robert, herb Robert.

G. sanguineum—Bloody cranesbill. Gaelic: cveachlach dearg,
the red wound-healer (cveach, a wound). Geranium Robertianum
and geranium sanguineum have been and are held in great repute
by the Highlanders, on account of their astringent and vulnerary
properties.

OXILIDEA,
(From Greek o£¢s, oxys, acid, from the acid taste of the leaves).

Oxalis acetosella—Wood-sorrel. Gaelic: sam, shelter. It
grows in sheltered spots. Also the name given to its capsules.
Also summer. It may simply be the summer flower.

“Ag itheadh sazmh,” eating sorrel.
Seamrag. Irish: seamrog (shamrock), generally applied to the

17

trefoils. Sealbhaig na fiodha (O’Reilly). The Gaelic name means
“wood sorrel.” It is not a sorrel (seadbhaig), but it is frequently
used as a substitute on account of its acidity, caused by the abun-
-dance of oxalic acid formed in the leaves.
‘*Le seamragan ’s le nedineanan,
’S gach lus a dh’fheudain ainmeachadh
Cuir anbharra dhreach boidhchead air.” —MACINTYRE.
With wood-sorrel and with daisies,
And plants that I could name,
Giving the place a most beautiful appearance.
The shamrock is said to be worn by the Irish upon the anniversary
-of St. Patrick for the following reason:—When the Saint preached
the Gospel to the pagan Irish, he illustrated the doctrine of the
‘Trinity by showing them a trefoil, which was ever afterwards worn
upon the Saint’s anniversary. “Between May-day and harvest,
butter, new cheese, and curds and shamrock are the food of the
meaner sorts during all this season.”—Pimrs’s “West Meath.”
Surag, the sour one; Scotch: sourock (from the Armoric sur,
‘Teutonic, ser, sour). Welsh: suran y gdg, cuckoo’s sorrel.
Gaelic: biadh edinean, birds’ food. Manx: éee cooag, cookoo’s
meat. Irish: di//eog nan eun, the leaf of the birds.
“Timchioll thulmanan diamhair
Mu ‘m bi'm biadh-edinean a’ fas.’’ MACDONALD.
Around sheltered hillocks
Where the wood:sorrel grows.
Feada coille, candle of the woods, name given to the flower; feadh,
candle or rush. Clobhar na maighiche, hare’s clover.
‘¢ Mar sin is leasachan soilleir,
Do dh’ fheada-coille nan cds.”-—MACDONALD.
Like the flaming light
Of the wood-sorrel of the caverns.

CELASTRACA,

Eunoymus europzeus—Common spindle-tree. Gaelic and Irish:
oir, feoras,—oir, the east point, east. “A wr an oir,” from the
land of the East (Ozri~, Europe), being rare in Scoland and
Ireland, but common on the Continent. Ozr and feoir also mean
a border, edge, limit, it being commonly planted in hedges.
Whether the name has any reference to these significations, it is
very difficult to determine with certainty. Oir, the name of the
thirteenth letter, O, of the Gaelic and Irish alphabet. It is

B

18

worthy of notice that all the letters were called after trees or

plants :—
Gaelic. English. Gaelic. English.

A, Ailm. Elm. L, - Luis. Quicken.
b, Beite. Birch. M, Muin. Vine.
GC; Coll. Hazel. N, Nuin. Ash.
D, Dur. Oak. O, Oir. Spindle-tree..
Ey Eagh. Aspen. PB, Peith. Pine.
F, Fearn. Alder. hk, - Ruis. Elder.
G, Gath. Ivy. S, Suil. Willow.
H, Huath. White-thorn. ¥; Teine. Furze.
I, Iogh. Yew. Us Ur. Heath.

GaELic ALPHABET.—Antecedent to the use of the present
alphabet, the ancient Celts wrote on the barks of trees. The
writing on the bark of trees they called oghuim, and sometimes.
trees, feadha, and the present alphabet “v7 or letters.

‘Cormac Casil cona churu,
Leir Mumu, cor mela;
Tragaid im righ Ratha Bicli,
Na Litri is na Feadha.”

Cormac of Cashel with his companions
Munster is his, may he long enjoy ;

Around the King of Ratha Bicli are cultivated
The Letrers and the TREES.

The “letters” here signify, of course, our present Gaelic:
alphabet and writings ; but the “trees” can only signify the oghzm,
letters, which were named after trees indigenous to the country.”
—Prof. O’Curry.

RHAMNACE&,
Rhamnus (from Gaelic ram, Celtic ram, a branch, wood).
“ Talamh nan ramh.”’—Ossian.
The country of woods,

The Greeks changed the word to pdpvos, and the Latins to ramus.

R. catharticus—Prickly buckthorn. Gaelic: ramh droighionn,
prickly wood. Welsh: rhafnwydd—rhaf, to spread; wydd, tree.
Brenahal (Threl)—This name should have been Brenadhal, or in
our Gaelic Brewn ubhal, putrid apple. The fruit is fleshy, but
more a berry than an apple. It is a violent purgative, and yields.
a dye varying in tint from yellow to green.

Juglans regia—The walnut. Gaelic: craobh ghall-chno—gall, x
foreigner, a stranger; cd, a nut.

eS)

LEGUMINIFERA.
Gaelic: /uis methgeagach, pod-bearing plants. Sarr-guc, papil-
ionaceous flowers (Armstrong), Pdr-cochullach, leguminous.

“ Barr-guc air mheuraibh nosara.”—MAcCINTYRE.
Blossoms on sappy branches.

Sarothamnus scoparius—Broom. Gaelic: Jbealaidh or beal-
utah, said to be (by popular etymology) “from Bead, Baal,and uidh,
favour, the plant that Belus favoured, it being yellow-flowered.
Yellow was the favourite colour of the Druids (who were worship-
pers of Belus), and also of the bards” (Brocxkig.) Welsh: danadi,
etymologyobscure Irish: drum ,; and Welsh; ysgub. Gaelic: sguab,
a brush made from the broom. Latin: scoparius. Gtolcach sleibhe
(giolc, a reed, a cane, a leafless twig ; sleibhe, of the hill). Manx:
guilcagh. A decoction of it was used as a purgative, and to reduce
swelling.

The badge of the Clan Forbes.

Acacia seyal—-In the Bible the shitéah tree. Gaelic: sitta. A
native of Egypt and Arabia.

‘* Cuiridh mi anns an fhasach an seudar, an sztta,
Am miortal, agus an crann-oladh.’’—Isaiah xli., 19.

Cytisus laburnum—Laburnum. Gaelic: dealaidh Fhrangach (in
Breadalbane), in some parts Saswanach, French or English broom
(Ferguson). /rangach is very often affixed to names of plants of
foreign origin. This tree was introduced from Switzerland in
1596. Craobh Abran—Abraon, April.

Ulex—Name from the Celtic ec or ac, a prickle (Jones).

U. europeus—Furze, whin, gorse. Gaelic and Irish: conasg,
from Irish conas, war, because of its armed or prickly appearance.
Attin. Welsh: eithin, prickles. Manx: ji/g choyin, dogs’
prickles. Zezwe. Also the name of the letter T in Gaelic. Some
authorities give ¢ezze for heath. O’Reilly gives uv, the letter UV
for heath. Not common in the Highlands, but plentiful about
Fortingall, Perthshire.

Ononis arvensis—Rest harrow. Gaelic and Irish: sveang
bogha, bowstring Welsh: tagaradr, stop the plough ; ezthin yr eir,
ground prickles. Scotch: cammock, from Gaelic cam, crooked.
Irian tarran (O'Reilly), tri a terrain (Threl). Also often
called wild liquorice. A troublesome, shrubby little plant, with
flowers like those of the broom or furze, not yellow but rosy, with

20

strong, string-like roots that arrest the harrow or plough, requiring
three times the strength to pull. Does that fact explain the Irish
names /vi—three, but ¢vzan, the third, and in our Gaelic ¢ar-
vuing, pull, draw ?

Trigonella ornithopodioides—Fenugreek, Greek hay. Gaelic:
tonntag-Ghreugach (Armstrong) ; Fineal Ghreugach, Greek nettle ;
crubh-edin, birds’ shoe. Welsh: y Groeg gwair, Greek hay.
Used as an emolient for sores and wounds for horses and other
animals.

Trifolium repens—White or Dutch clover. Gaelic and Irish:
seamar bhan, the fair gentle one (see Oxadlis), written also sameir,
stomrag, seanrag, seamrog. Wood-sorrel and clover are often con-
founded, but seamar bhan is invariable for white clover, and for
Trifolium procumbens, hop trefoil, seamhrag bhutidhe, yellow
clover. Manx: Samark.

‘*Gach saimeir neonean ’s masag.” MACDONALD.
Every clover, daisy, and berry,

‘*An f-seamrag uaine ’s barr-gheal gruag,
A’s buidheann chuachach neoinean.”—MACLACHLAN.
The green white-headed clover,
And clusters of cupped daisies.

The badge of Clan Sinclair.

T. pratense—Red clover. Gaelic: seamar a’ chapuill, the mare’s
clover. Capull, from Greek kadéXAns, a work-horse. Latin:
caballus, a horse. Tri-bilean, trefoil, three-leaved. Welsh:
tairdalen, the same meaning. Meillonem, honeywort, from mel,
honey. Gaelic: sdgag, Scotch sookie, the bloom of clover, so
called because it contains honey, and children suck it. Seirg
(O’Reilly). Being more sappy, therefore more difficult to
dry and preserve, may have suggested the name seizg, decay.

Alpestre and T. minus—Small yellow clover. Gaelic: seangan,
small, slender.

T. arvense—Hare’s-foot clover. Gaelic: cas maighiche (Arm-
strong), hare’s foot.

Lotus corniculata—Bird’s-foot trefoil. Gaelic: barra mhis-
Han—barra, top or flower; mis/ean, anything that springs or

grows. Irish: crutbin, claws. (See Cranberry). Manx: crouw-
hayt. Scotch: catclukis, cat’s claws. Adharc an adiabhoil, mean-

21

ing “the Devil’s horn.” So called from the form of its pods.
The flowers are yellow, and often streaked with red. Common

in pastures, and ascending the mountains to the height of 2800
feet.

Anthyllis vulneraria—Kidney vetch, or Lady’s Fingers.
Gaelic: medzr Mhuire, Mary’s fingers ; cas an uain, lamb’s foot.

Vicia’ sativa—Vetch. Gaelic and Irish: fatgha/, nuitritious
(from Irish fadh, now written biadh, food); peasair fhiadhain,
wild peas; peasair chapull, mare’s peas. Welsh: iddys, edible
peas. Irish: prs fhiadhain, wild peas ; pis dubh, black peas. Storr.

V. cracea—Tufted vetch. Gaelic: peasair nan luch, mice
peas ; pesair (Latin, pisum,; Welsh, sys, French, pots, peas), are
all from the Celtic root, Z7s, a pea; also peasair radan, rat pease.

V. sepium—Bush vetch. Gaelic: peasair nam preas, the bush
peas.

Lathyrus pratensis—- Yellow vetchling. Gaelic: peasair
bhuidhe, yellow peas. Irish: pis dhuddhe, yellow peas.

Ervum hirsutum—Hairy vetch or tare (from evv, Celtic—arv,
Latin, tilled land). Gaelic: peasair an arbhair, corn peas. Welsh:
pysen y ceirch—ceirch, oats. Gaelic: gall pheasatr, a name for
lentils or vetch. Ga//, sometimes prefixed to names of plants
having lowland habitats, or strangers.

“‘Lan do ghall pheasair.”’—2 Sam., STUART.
Full of lentils.

Faba vulgaris—Bean. Gaelic: pomair. Irish: pdnaive. Cor-
nish: pdnar (from the German féza, a _ bean. Gaelic :
ponair Fhrangach, French beans; ponair dzrneach, kidney beans;
ponair chapull, buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata). Seth (O’Dono-
van) (faba)—Bean. Manx: foanrey.

‘*Gabh thugad fds cruithneachd agus edrna, agus pdnai7, agus peasair,

agus meanbh-pheasair, agus peasair fhiadhain, agus cuir iad ann an aon
soitheach, agus dean duit féin aran duibh.” Stuart, Ezekiel iv. 9.

“Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and
millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof.”
Orobus tuberosus—Tuberous bitter vetch (from Greek épw,
oro, to excite, to strengthen, and fots, an ox). Gaelic and Irish;

1 Vicia (from Greek Buxcov, Latin vicia, French vesce, English vetch),
—Loupon.

22

cairmeal (Armstrong)—cair, dig ; meal, enjoy; also mad/,; Welsh,
moel, a knob, a tuber—.e., the tuberous root that is dug ; corra-
metile (Macleod and Dewar). Cdréan in Killarney.

“Ts clann bheag a trusa leolaicheann !

Buain cory an cds nam bruachagan.”—MACINTYRE.

Little children gathering . .

And digging the bitter vetch from the holes in the banks.
Corra, a crane, and mei//g, a pod, the crane’s pod or peas.
Welsh: pys y garanod, crane’s peas; garan, a crane. “The
Highlanders have a great esteem for the tubercles of the roots ;
they dry and chew them to give a better relish to their whisky.
They also affirm that they are good against most diseases of the
thorax, and that by the use of them they are enabled to repel
hunger and thirst fora long time. In Breadalbane and Ross-shire
they sometimes bruise and steep them in water, and make an
agreeable fermented liquor with them, called cazvm. They have
a sweet taste, something like the roots of liquorice, and when
boiled are well flavoured and nutritive, and in times of scarcity
have served as a substitute for bread” (Lightfoot).

Bitter vetch—and sometimes called “ wild liquorish ”—seems
to be the same name as the French “caramed/,” burnt sugar ; and
according to Webster, Latin, “canna mediis,” or sugar-cane. The
fermented liquor that was formerly made from it, called cazrm or
cuirm, seems to be the same as the “court” which Dioscorides
says the old Britons drank. The root was pounded and infused,
and yeast added. It was either drunk by itself or mixed with
their ale—a liquor held in high estimation before the days of
whisky ; hence the word “cuérm” signifies a feast. That their
drinking gatherings cannot have had the demoralising tendencies
which might be expected, is evident, as they were taken as typical
of spiritual communion. In the Litany of ‘ Aengus Céilé Dé,”
dating about the year 798, we have a poem ascribed to St. Brigid,
now preserved in the Burgundian Library, Brussels.

“*Ropadh maith lem corm-lind mor,
Do righ na righ,

1 Leolaicheann, probably Trollius europeus (the globe flower), from o/,
dlachan, drink, drinking. Children frequently use the globe flower as a
drinking cup. Scotch: luggie gowan, Luggie, a small wooden dish ; or it
may be a corruption from ¢roZ or frollen, an old German word signifying
round, in allusion to the form of the flower, hence Trollius.

23

Ropadh maith lem muinnter nimhe

Acca hol tre bithe shir.”

I should like a great lake of ale

For the King of Kings ;

I should like the family of heaven

To be drinking it through time eternal.
‘To prevent the inebriating effects of ale, ‘‘the natives of Mull
are very careful to chew a piece of “charme/” root, finding it
to be aromatic—especially when they intend to have a drinking
bout ; for they say this in some measure prevents drunkenness.”
-—Martin’s ‘‘ Western Isles.”

ROSACE.
{From the Celtic. Gaelic, vas; Welsh, hos; Armoric, vosen ;
Greek, fodov,; Latin, vosa).

Prunus spinosa—Blackthorn, sloe. Gaelic: preas nan air-
neag, the sloe bush. Irish: dre, a sloe. Manx: drine arn.
Welsh: e¢vinen. Sanskrit: arani.

“Suilean air ll dirneag.”’—Ross.
Eyes the colour of sloes.

Bugh-—O’Clery, in his vocabulary, published a.p. 1643,

describes dugh thus :—

“ Bugh, i.e., wibh gorm no glas ris a samhailtean stile bhios gorm no
-glas.” That is a blue or grey plant, to which the eye is compared if it be blue

r grey,
“Dearca mar dhlaoi don bhugha.”—O’BRIEN.
“Cosmall ri dugha a shuili.”
His eyes were like slaes.—O’CuRRY.
Sgitheach dubh—the word sgith ordinarily means weary, but it
means also (in Irish) fear; duéf, black, the fearful black one, but
probably in this case it is a form of sgeach, a haw (the fruit of the
white thorn), the black haw. Welsh: ysbyddad, draenenddu.
“€Criin sgithich an aite crin righ.”—MACKELLAR.
A crown of thorns instead of a royal crown.
Droighionn dubh, the black penetrator (perhaps from druid, to
penetrate, pierce, bore), account of spines in the Latin “Spinosa.”
Compare Gothic, thruifa, Sanskrit, ¢rut; Latin, ¢r/t; German,
dorn; English, thorn; Irish (old form), drazgen; Welsh, draen,;
Manx, drine doo. Skeag doo.
“‘Croinn droighnich on ear’s o’n iar.” —OLD Poem.
Thorn trees from east and west.

24

A superstition was common among the Celtic races that
for every tree cut down in any district, one of the inhabi-
tants in that district would die that year. Many ancient forts,
and the thorns which surrounded them, were preserved by the
veneration, or rather dread, with which the thorns were held ;
hence, perhaps, the name sgitheach, sgith (anciently), fear ; hence
also, droighionn (druidh), enchantment, witchcraft.

P. damascena—Damson. Gaelic and Irish: dazmsin, Damascus
plum. Manx: atrney ghoo, black plum.

P. insititia—Bullace. Gaelic and Irish: dudastair. Compare
Breton, 4o/os ; Welsh, eirinen bulas.

P. domestica—Wild plum, Gaelic: plumbars fiadhain, wild
plum; p/umbais seargta, prunes. Atridh, Welsh: eirinen.

P, armeniaca— Apricot. Gaelic: apricoc. Welsh: dricyllen.
Regnier supposes from the Arabic derkoch, whence the Italian
albicocco, and the English agricot; or, as Professor Martyn
observes, a tree when first introduced might have been called a
“‘preecox,” or early fruit, and gardeners taking the article “a”
for the first syllable of the words, might easily have corrupted it
to “apricots.”

P. cerasus—Cherry-tree. Gaelic: craobh shiris, a corruption
of Cerasus, a town in Pontus in Asia, from whence the tree was
first brought. S7//m (O’Reilly).

“Do bheul mar an ¢-sz7is.”

Thy mouth like the cherry.
Welsh: cezriosen.

P. padus—Bird-cherry. Gaelic: craobh fhiodhag, from fiodh,
wood, timber; fodhach, a shrubbery. Glocan. Dun reisk (Threl),
probably he means in our Gaelic donnz risg, brown bark. The

plum and cherry trees are characterised by their dun-coloured
barks.

P. avium—Wild cherry. Gaelic: geanais, the gean. French:
guigne, from a German root. Welsh: cezriosen ddu, black cherry..

Amydalus communis—Almond. Gaelic: a/mon.
‘?Nuair a bhios a’ chraobh almoin fuidh bhlath.”—Ecct. xii. 5.

A. persica—Peach. Gaelic: peztseag, from the English. Meoch-
dair. One of the numerous peach family. “The fruit is called
nectarine, from zectar, the poetical drink of the gods.” The

25

product of the seeds of Amygdalus communis is familiar to us-
under the name of almonds, and its oil—oil of almonds.

Spirea ulmaria—Meadow-sweet, queen of the meadow. Gaelic:
crios (or cneas) Chu-chulainn. The plant called “My lady’s belt”
(Mackenzie). “‘A flower mentioned by Macdonald in his poem
‘Allt an ¢-sitcair, with the English of which I am not acquainted”
(Armstrong).

It is zof mentioned in the poem referred to, but in “Ovan an
t.Samhraidh” —The Summer Song.
‘©S ctbhraidh faileadh do mhuineil

A chrios-Chu-Chulainn nan carn !

Na d@’ chruinn bhabaidean riabhach,
Loineach, fhad luirgneach, sgiamhach.

Na d’ thuim ghiobagach, dreach mhin,
Bharr-bhtidhe, chasurlaich, aird ;

Timcheall thulmanan diamhair
Ma’m bi ’m biadh-edinean a’ fas.” MACDONALD.

Sweetly scented thy wreath,
Meadow-sweet of the cairns !

In round brindled clusters,

And softly fringed tresses,
Beautiful, tall, and graceful,
Creamy flowered, ringleted, high ;
Around sheltered hillocks

Where the wood-sorrel grows.

Airgiod luachra, silver rush. Welsh: /ysiu’r forwyn, the maiden’s:
flower. In Argyleshire /us nan gillean oga. The young men’s.
plant.

S. filipendula—Dropwort. Irish: greaban. Meddlys, sweet
wort (O’Reilly).

Linnzus informs us that, “in a scarcity of corn, the tubers have
been eaten by men instead of food.” Welsh: crogedyf—crogi, to
suspend, The tuberous roots are suspended on filaments, hence
the names filipendula and dropwort.

Geum rivale—Water avens. Gaelic: machall uisge; in Irish:
macha, a head, and a/é/, all—z.e., allhead—the flower being large

2Cu chullin’s belt. Ctchullin was the most famous champion of the Ulster
Militia in the old Milesian times. He lived at the dawn of the Christian era.
He was so called from Cu, a hound, and Ullin, the name of the province.
Many stories are still extant regarding him.

26

in proportion to the plant. Uisge, water. It grows in moist
places only.

G. urbanum—Common avens. Gaelic: machall coille—cotlle,
wood, where it generally grows. Benedin—O’Reilly gives this
name to the tormentil; he also gives ‘Septfoil” (Comarum),
‘The geum is very like those plants both in flower and properties.
To a non-botanist they seem pretty much the same. The old
English name was Herb-Bennet. The rootstock of all these is
powerfully astringent, and yields a yellow dye. Welsh: Bezdz-
geidlys, ys Bened.

Dryas octopetala—White dryas. Gaelic: machall monaidh, the
large-flowered mountain plant. (The name was given by an old
man in Killin from a specimen from Ben Lawers in 1870). Luidh
bheann (ogan)-—The hill or ben plant. Growing on high stony
hills to the height of nearly 3000 feet in the Highlands; little
shrub-like plants, with leaves somewhat like the oak leaf, and
about eight large white petals on the flower.

The badge of Macneil and Lamont.

Potentilla anserina—Silverweed, white tansy. Gaelic : Jrisyean
(written also ériosglan, brislean), from briosg or brisg, brittle.
Brisgean milis, sweet bread. “ The drisgean, or wild skirret, is a
succulent root not unfrequently used by the poorer people in
some parts of the Highlands for bread” (Armstrong).

The skirret (see Siz sisarum) is not native. Curran earraich.

“* Mil fo thalamh, curran earraich.”
Under ground honey spring carrots.

‘* Exceptional luxuries. The spring carrot is the roct of the silver weed.” —
Sheriff NIcoLson. ;

‘The plant here alluded to is Potentil/a anserina. Barr bhrisgean,
the flower. Welsh: ‘nl/wydd.

P. reptans—Cinquefoil. Gaelic: meangach, branched or
twigged—mmeang, a branch, because of its runners, its long
leaf, and flower-stalks. Cilig Ahileach, five-leaved. Irish: cig
mheur Muire, Mary's five fingers. Welsh: Wysieuyn pump, same
meaning.

P. tormentilla—Common potentil, or tormentil. Gaelic:
Zeanartach (Shaw). Leamhnach, tormenting. Barr draonan-nan-

27

con, the dogs’ briar bud. Braonan fraoich (fraoch, heather).
Braonan, the bud of a briar (Armstrong). Braonan bachiaig, the
earth nut (Bunium flexuosum) (Macdonald), from éraon, a drop.
Cairt laiyr—This is the name among fishermen in the Western
Isles, meaning the “ground bark.” It is generally used for
tanning the nets when they cannot get the oak bark.

‘* Min-fheur chaorach is barra-bhraonan.”—MACINTYRE.
Soft sheep grass and the flower of the tormentil.

Irish: neamhnatd, neamhain. Welsh: tresgl y moch.

Comarum palustre—Marsh cinquefoil. Gaelic: cig bhileach
uisge, the water five-leaved plant. Cnd /eana, meaning the bog or
swamp nut. Threlkeld gives another name, “Ciiesheag,” from
ciig, five. The leaves are generally arranged in fives, hence the
English and French names.

Fragaria vesca—Wood strawberry. Gaelic: subh (or sith)
thalinhuinn, the earth’s sap, the earth’s delight (from s#5h or sigh,
sap, juice; also delight, pleasure, joy, mirth); ‘Aalimhuinn, of the

earth.
* Theirig subh-thalmhuinn nam bruach.”—MACDONALD.

The wild strawberries of the bank are done.
Sndbhan laire, the ground sap ; Hachd shibh, pleasant fruit. Thlachd
sheist (O'Reilly).
** Subhan ldire ’s faile ghroiseidean.” —MACcINTYRE.
Wild strawberries and the odour of gooseberries.
Suthag, a strawberry or raspberry.
“Gur deirge na’n ¢-suthag an ruthadh tha d’ ghruaidh.”’
Thy cheeks are ruddier than the strawberry.
Trish: cafog, the strawberry bush. Cazh, seeds (the seedy fruit).
Welsh: mefussen.

Rubus (from rd, red in Celtic), in reference to the colour of
the fruit in some species.

Rubus chamzemorus—Cloudberry. Gaelic: o/veag, variously
written—olghreag, foighreag, feireag. Irish: efreag (eireachd,
beauty). Scotch: Averin.

‘‘Breac le feiveagan is cruin dearg ceann.” MACINTYRE.
Checkered with cloudberries with round red heads.
Moon a man meene (Threl). Muin na mna-mhin, the gentle
woman’s bush or vine. Aun was the ancient Gaelic name for

28

the vine. ‘The cloudberry is the most grateful fruit gathered
by the Scotch Highlanders” (Neill).

The badge of Clan Macfarlane.

Critban na saona, “the dwarf mountain bramble.” (O'Reilly,
Armstrong, and others). Probably this is another name for the
cloudberry, but its peculiar and untranslatable name furnishes no
certain clue to what plant it was formerly applied.

R. saxatilis—Stone bramble. Gnaelic: caora bad miann, the
berry of the desirable cluster. usteaga, redness, a slight tinge
of red. Soo na man meen (Threl). Subh na mban-min
(O'Reilly). |The gentlewomen’s berry. This bramble is pretty
common in the Highlands and in Ireland, ascending the Gram-
pians aud other mountains to the height of 2700 feet. The fruit
is more scarlet and rounder than that of the common blackberry
(fruticosus ), and it grows generally in stony places.

R. ideeus—Raspberry. Gaelic: preas sithh chraobh (craobh, a
tree, a sprout. a bud), the bush with sappy sprouts.
“ Faile nan s7bh-craobh is nan rdsan.””—MACcINTYRE.
The odour of rasps and roses.
Welsh: mafon—maj, what is clustering. Gaelic: preas shilidheag,
the sappy bush. Sz/ghag, the fruit (from sigh, juice, sap).

R. fruticosus—Common bramble. Irish and Gaelic: dreas,
plural, dris. Welsh: dyrys—the root rys, entangle, with prefix
ay, force, irritation. In Gaelic and Welsh the words dvs and
drysien are applied to the bramble and briar indiscriminately.

“* An dreas a’ fas gu h-trar.”—OssIAN.
The bramble (or briar) freshly growing.
‘Am fear théid san droighionn domh
Theid mi ’san dris da.” —PROVERB.
If one pass through thorns for me,
Pll pass through brambles (or briars) for him.
Grian mhuine, the thorn (bush) that basks in the sun. Dries
muine—muine, a thorn, prickle, sting. Smear phreas (Irish:
smeur), the bush that smears; smearag, that which smears (the
fruit). Welsh: méar, the bramble. Manx: drine smeyr. (Miar
or meur in Gaelic means a finger.) Smmearachd, fingering, greasing,
smearing. (Compare Dutch smeeren; German, schmieren, to

29

smear or daub. Sanskrit: smar, to smear. Dyis-smear, another
combination of the preceding names. Lachkrann (O'Reilly),
where brambles grow. The word means an impediment, a
stumbling-block, when walking.

It was and is a common belief in the Highlands that each
blackberry contains a poisonous worm. Another popular belief
—kept up probably to prevent children eating them when
unripe—that the fairies defiled them at Michaelmas and Hal-
lowe’en.

This plant is the badge of a branch of the Clan Maclean.
R, cxsius—Blue bramble ; dewberry bush. Gaelic: Jreas nan-
gorm ahearc, the blueberry bush.
** Barr gach tolmain fo bhrat gorm dhearc.”—MACDONALD.
Every knoll under a mantle of blueberries (dewberries).

The blue bramble is the badge of the Clan Macnab.

Rosa canina—Dog-rose. Gaelic: rds man con, dog rose.
Greek: xv-wv. Latin: canis. Sanskrit: czas. Irish: cz. Welsh:
ciros (ct, a dog), dog rose.

Gaelic: coin droighionn, dogs’ thorn. Larradhreas or fearra-
ahris, earrad, armour; suggested by its being armed with prickles..
“Mar mhucaig na fearra-dhris,”—MACKELLAR.
Like hips on the briar,

Preas-nam-mucag, the hip-bush—from muc (Welsh: moch), a pig,
from the fancied resemblance of the seeds to pigs, being bristly.
Irish : sgeach mhadra, the dogs’ haw or bush. Welsh: merddrain.
Manx: drine booag—(booag, the fruit), Gaelic: 7ds, rose; culti-
vated rose, rds garaidh.
“« B’é sid an sealladh éibhinn ! —

Do bhruachan glé-dhearg rds.”

That was a joyful sight !

Thy banks so rosy red.

R. rubiginosa—Sweet-briar (é7zar, Gaelic: a bodkin or pin).
Gaelic: dris chibhraidh, the fragrant bramble. Irish: sgeach-
chimhra, the fragrant haw or bush. Cuwérdris, the twisting briar.
—cuir, gen. sing. of car, to twist or wind. Welsh: rhoslwyn pér.
O’Reilly gives forvdris as sweet briar and jessamine. The sweet
briar is the ‘‘ Eglantine” of the poets.

Agrimonia eupatoria—Agrimony. Gaelic: mur-draidhean—

30

mur, sorrow, grief, affliction; dvaidhean, another form of droigh-
tonn (see Prunus spinosa). Draidh, or druidh, also means a
magacian, which may refer to its supposed magical effects on
troubles as well as diseases. A noted plant in olden times for
the cure of various complaints. Irish: marbh droightonn—
marbh dhruidh, a necromancer, or magician. Geur bhileach—
geur, sharp, sour, rigid; bhileach, leaved; on account of its.
leaves being sharply serrated, or because of its bitter taste.
Mirean, or Meirean nam magh, the merry one of the field.
Welsh: y dorllwyd. Trydon, what pervades.

Sanguisorba—Burnet. 4’ dhileach losgainn. ‘Vhe leaves good
for burns and inflammations (/osgadh, burning). Manx: /us yn
ailé, the fire weed.

Alchemilla vulgaris—Common lady's mantle. Gaelic: copan
an driichd, the dew cup; falluing Mhuire, Mary’s mantle. Irish:
dearna Mhuire, Mary’s palm. Gaelic: cruba, leomhainn, lion’s
paw ; cota preasach nighean an righ, the princesses’ plaited gar-
ment. Irish: Zathach bhuidhe, also leagadh bhuidhe (O'Reilly).
A decoction from this plant was supposed to restore beauty
after it faded. The dew gathered from its cup-like leaves had the
same effect.

A. alpina—Alpine Lady’s Mantle. Gaelic: ¢vwsgan, mantle.
The form and the satiny under-side of the leaves of this and the
other species gave rise to the names ¢rusgan, falluing, cota, and the

English name, lady’s mantle.
“ Tha trusgan faoilidh air cruit an aonaich.”—MACINTYRE.
The mantle-grass on the ridge of the mountain.

The hills about Coire-cheathaich and Ben Doran (the district
described by the poet) are covered with this beautiful plant.
The word ¢rusgan, mantle, may be used in this instance in its
poetic sense. Minan Mhuire (Threl) (Mfeangan ALhuire), Mary's
twig, or Miann Mhuire, Mary's desire.

Mespilus germanica—Medlar. Gaelic: crann meidil (Macdon-
ald) said to be a corruption of Mespilus, formerly called the medle
tree. AZed/e stands for the old French mes/e, a meddlar.

Crategus oxyacantha—Whitethorn, hawthorn. Gaelic: sgith-
each geal, drioghionn geal (see Prunus spinosa), geal, white ; preas
nan sgeachag; sgeach,ahaw. Welsh: draenen wen, white thorn.
Manx: drine skaig. Irish: seiog.

31

‘© Mios bog nan tbhlan breac-mheallach,

Gu peurach plumbach sgeachagach,

A’ luisreadh sios le dearcagaibh,

Cir-mhealach, beachach, grdiseideach."—MACLACHUINN.

Soft month of the spotted bossy apples !

Producing pears, plums, and haws,

Abounding in berries,

Honeycomb, wasps, and gooseberries.
Vath or huath—the ancient Gaelic and Irish name—has several:
significations; but the root seems to be Au (Celtic), that which
pervades. Welsh: Awad, that which smells or has a scent (Auadgu,
a hound that scents). ‘The name hawthorn is supposed to be a
corruption of the Dutch Zaag, a hedge-thorn.

The badge of the Clan Ogilvie.

Pyrus (from feren, Celtic for pear). Latin: pyrwm. Armoricr
per. Welsh: peren. French: pore.

P. communis—Wild pear. Gaelic: craobh pheuran fiadh-
ain (peur, the fruit), the wild pear-tree.

P. malus—‘dZe/ or mad, Celtic for the apple, which the
Greeks have rendered pAov, and the Latins madlus.”—Don,
Welsh: afaZ, Manx: ooy/, Anglo-Saxon: @f/. Norse: apad.
apple. Gaelic: ubhal,; craobh ubhal fhiadhain, the wild apple tree..

**Do mheasan milis cubhraidh

Nan zdhlan ’s nam peur.”’—MACDONALD.

Thy sweet and fragrant fruits,

Apples and pears.
The old form of the word was adhul or abhul. The culture of
apples must have been largely carried on in the Highlands in
olden times, as appears from lines by Merlin, who flourished in
A.D. 470, of which the following is a translation :—

“Sweet apple-tree loaded with the sweetest fruit, growing in the lonely wilds
of the woods of Celyddon (Dunkeld), all seek thee for the sake of thy produce,
but in vain ; until Cadwaldr comes to the conference of the ford of Rheon, and
Conan advances to oppose the Saxons in their career.”

This poem is given under the name of Afa//anau, or Orchard,
by which Merlin perhaps means Athol—z.e,, Abhal or Adhul—
which was believed by old etymologists to acquire its name from its
fruitfulness in apple trees. Goirteag (from goirt, bitter), the-
sour or bitter one (the crab-apple). Irish: Gairtedg. Cuairtagan-

32

(the fruit); cwazr¢, round, the roundies. Irish: cuetrt. Crmhrog
{O’Reilly). Sweet apple, from c#éhra, sweet fragrant, in our
Gaelic cubhraidh.

The tree is the badge of the Clan Lamont.

P. aucuparia—Mountain-ash, rowan-tree. Old Irish and
Gaelic : /ués, drink (/uisreog, a charm). The Highlanders formerly
used to distil the fruit into a very good spirit. They also believed
“that any part of this tree carried about with them would prove a
sovereign charm against all the dire effects of enchantment or
witchcraft.” —Lightfoot (1772). uinseag coille, the wood enchan-
tress, or the wood-ash (see Circea); caorrunn. Irish: partainn-
aearg (the berry). Caorthann. Caor, a berry, and fan, a tree
Welsh: cerddin. Manx: heirn.

**Bu dheirge a ghruaidh na caorrunn.”—OSSIAN.
His cheeks were ruddier than the rowan.
“« Sail chorrach mar an dearcag,
Fo rosg a dh-iathas dlu,
Gruaidhean mar na caorrunn
Fo ’n aodann tha leam citin.”—AN CAILIN DILEAS DONN.

Thine eyes are like the blaeberry,
Full and fresh upon the brae,
Thy cheeks shall blush like the rowans
On a mellow autumn day.
(Translated by Professor J. S. Blackie).

A very uncommon variety of the rowan tree, with orange
colour fruit, is found growing by the road side at “Balbeg” Farm,
Lawers, Breadalbane.

(Craobh chaorruinn)—Mountain-ash. The Highlanders have
long believed that good or bad luck is connected with various
trees. The caorrunn or fuinnseach coille (the wood enchantress)
was considered by them as the most propitious of trees, hence it
was planted near every dwelling-house, and even far up in the
mountain glens, still marking the spot of the old shielings. “And
in fishing-boats as are rigged with sails, a piece of the tree was
fastened to the haulyard, and held as an indispensable necessity.”
“Cattle diseases were supposed to have been induced by fairies,
or by witchcraft. It is a common belief to bind unto a cow’s tail
a small piece of mountain-ash, as a charm against witchcraft.”—
Martin. And when malt did not yield its due proportion of
spirits, this was a sovereign remedy. In addition to its other
virtues, its fruit was supposed to cause longevity. In the Dean of

5S

‘Lismore’s Book there occurs a very old poem, ascribed to Caoch
O’Cluain (Blind O’Cloan). He described the rowan-tree thus:—
‘‘Caorthainn do bhi air Loch Maoibh do chimid an traigh do dheas,

Gach a ré ‘us gach a mios toradh abuich do bhi air.
Seasamh bha an caora sin, fa millise no mil a bhlath,
Do chumadh a caoran dearg fear gun bhiadh gu ceann naoi trath,
Bliadhna air shaoghal gach fir do chuir sin is sgeul dearbh.”

A rowan tree stood on Loch Mai,

We see its shore there to the south ;

Every quarter, every month,

It bore its fair, well-ripened fruit;

There stood the tree alone, erect,

Its fruit than honey sweeter far,

That precious fruit so richly red

Did suffice for a man’s nine meals ;

A year it added to man’s life.

—Translated by Dr. MACLACHLAN.

The badge of Clan Maclachlan.

P. torminalis—Service tree. Cvaobh cheorais (in Perthshire),
alteration of caorv, berry, also coavrunn. There are several varieties
of this tree, the most ornamental being P. aria, with deeply
lobed leaves, and white beneath. With white flowers and clusters
-of berries like the caorrunn, but not so red. The Gaelic name
being ga// uinnseann, the foreign ash.

Pyrus Cydonia —Quince tree. Gaelic: craobh chuinnse, corrup-
tion of quince, from French coignassa, pear-quince. Originally from
‘Cydon in Candia.

AURANTIACE.

Citrus aurantium—The orange. Gaelic: dr ubhal, golden
apple; dx mheas, golden fruit ; draisd, from Latin aurum. Irish:
or. Welsh: ayr, gold.

**°S Phoebus dath nan tonn
Air fiamh dvensin.”—MAcDONALD.

And Pheebus colouring the waves
With an orange tint.

Citrus medica—Citron. Gaelic: craobh shitrion.
Citrus limonum—Lemon. Gaelic: crann limoin. French:
Limon. Italian: “imone.

ANACARDIACE.
Pistacia lentisus—Mastic tree. AMJaisteag, from the Greek
c

34

Masttke, “the gum of the tree called in Latin enérscus,” so called
because used for chewing in the East. The leaves, bark, fruit,
and gum were known medicinally in Great Britain and Ireland
long ago.

P. terebinthus—Turpentine tree. Curlionn. The Teil tree of
the Bible (Isaiah vi. 13), rendered cz¢Zionn in the Gaelic version..

“* Agus pillidh e, agus caitheare mar an czz/ionn agus an darach.”
And it shall return, and shall be used as a teil tree and an oak.

MYRTACE.
Punica granatum—Pomegranate. Gaelic: gran ubhal (gran.
Latin, granum, grain-apple.
‘* Tha do gheuga mer lios gran wbhlan, leis a'mheas a’s taitniche.”—SonG

OF SOLOMON.
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits.

(Now generally written pomgranat in recent editions.)
Myrtus communis—Myrtle. Gaelic: mortal.
“An ait droighne fasaidh an giuthas, agus an ait drise fasaidh am miortal.”

—ISAIAH lv. 13.
Instead of the thorn shall grow the fir, and instead of the briar the myrtle.

ONAGRACEE.

Epilobium montanum—Mountain willow-herb. Gaelic: az
seileachan, diminutive of sevach (Latin: salix, a willow), from
the resemblance of its leaves to the willow. Welsh: /edpgdys,.
same meaning. Manx: dus ny shellee, willow herb.

“In Glenlyon the epilobiwm was, as elsewhere, often called ‘an seileachan,”
yet the older name ‘‘ helig ” or ‘‘ elig’”’ was retained, and one of the rocky hills-
of the Glen is called Craig-helig or Craig-elig from the plant.”—ZJnverness
Chronicle.

E. angustifolium—Rosebay. Gaelic: seileachan Frangach,
French willow. /¢amaznn (in Breadalbane), a common name for
plants growing near water, especially if they have long stalks.

Circea lutetiana and alpina—Enchantress’s nightshade. Gaelic
and Irish: fwinnseach. Not improbably from Irish xinnseach,
playing the wanton—the reference being to the fruit, which lays.
hold of the clothes of passengers, from being covered with hooked
prickles (as Circe is fabled to have done with her enchantments) ;
or fuinn, a veil, a covering. The genus grows in shady places,
where shrubs fit for incantations may be found. “ Finn (a word

35

of various significations), also means the earth ; and seach, dry—
zZe., the earth-dryer. Fuinnseagal (another Irish name), from
seagal (Latin, secale), rye—i.e., ground-rye” (Brockie); also fuinn-
seasgach. It grows in damp places, and has the reputation of dry-
ing the soil. us nan h-dighe, the maiden’s or enchantress weed.

LYTHRACEA.

Lythrum salicaria—Spiked lythrum, purple loosestrife. Gaelic:
lus na stth-chainnt, the peace-speaking plant.
‘*Chuir Dia oirnn craobh sith-chainnt,

Bha da’r dionadh gu leoir.”—IAN Lom.

God put the peace-speaking plant over us,

Which sheltered us completely.
The name also applies to the common loosestrife. Irish: dreallan
leana. Breall, a knob,a gland. It was employed as a remedy
for grandular diseases, or from the.appearance of the plant when
in seed. reallan means also a vessel. The capsule is enclosed
in the tube of the calyx, as if it were ina vessel. Lean, a swamp.
Generally growing in watery places.

HALORAGE.

Myriophyllum spicatum and alterniflorum. — Water-milfoil.
Gaelic and Irish: sndthainn ’bhathadh (from snath, a thread, a
filament ; and éa¢h, drown), the drowned thread. It grows in
ponds, lakes, and marshy places, with thread-like leaves arranged
in whirls. The spiked variety ascends in the Highlands to 1200
feet.

GROSSULARIACEE.

Ribes, said to be the name of an acrid and prickly plant.
(Rhéum ribes, mentioned by the Arabian physicians, a different
plant. Gaelic: spiontag, currant, gooseberry. Irish: spzontdg,
spin. Latin: spina, a thorn; also spon, pull, pluck, tear away.
Welsh : yspinem.

Ribes nigrum.—Black currant. Gaelic: ravsar dubh, the
black currant. reas nan dearc. The berry bush. faosar
(Scotch, #7z¢ar—from French, raisin ; Welsh, rhyfion; Old Eng-
lish, raisin tree), for red currant. Latin: racemus, a: cluster.
Dyes brown.

R. rubrum—Red or white currants. Gaelic: raosar dearg or

36

geal, red or white currants; dearc Fhrangach, French berry.
Spriunan.

R. grossularia—Gooseberry bush. Gaelic: preas ghroiseid
(written also grdseag, grosaid), the gooseberry—from grossulus,
diminutive of gvossus, an unripe fig,—‘so called because its
berries resemble little half-ripe figs, gross’” (Loudon). French:
groseille. Welsh: grwysen. Scotch: grozet, groze/—from kris,
curling, crisp. ‘The name was first given to the rougher kinds
of fruit, from the curling hairs on it.”—-SKEaT.

“¢ Suthan-lair’s faile gvddsecdean.”—M‘INTYRE.
Wild strawberry and the odour of gooseberries.

The prickles of the gooseberry bush were used as charms for
the cure of warts and the stye. A wedding-ring laid over the
wart, and pricked through the ring with a gooseberry thorn will,
remove the wart. Ten gooseberry thorns are plucked to cure the
stye—nine are pointed at the part affected, and the tenth thrown
over the left shoulder.

CRASSULACEA.

(From Latin, crassus, thick—in reference to the fleshy leaves and
stem. Gaelic: crasag, corpulent.)

Sedum rhodiola—Rose-root. Gaelic and Irish: /us nan laoch,
the heroes’ plant ; Zaoch, from the Irish, meaning a hero, a cham-
pion, a term of approbation for a young man. Grows on most of
the higher Highland mountains, to 4000 feet, also on the sea side
rocks. It has thick, crowded leaves, with yellow or purplish
flowers.

The badge of the Clan Gunn,

8. acre—Stonecrop, wall-pepper. Gaelic and Irish: grafan
nan clach, the stone’s pickaxe. Also in Gaelic: g/as-dann and
gtlas lean, a green spot. Welsh: manion y ceryg.

8. Anglicum—White or pink sedum. Irish: Biadhk an ¢-Ston-
atdh. Stonadh—a prince, a lord or chief. It was formerly
eaten as a salad, and considered a delicacy. It grows most
frequently on the West Coast and all round Ireland.

§. telephium—Orpine. Scotch: orpie. Gaelic: orp (from the
French, orpin). Lus nan laogh, the calf or fawn’s plant ; Zaogh,
a calf, a fawn, or young deer, a term of endearment for a young
child. Welsh: ¢eZefin (from Latin, zelephium.

37

Sempervirum tectorum—House-leek. Gaelic: /us nan cluas,!
the ear-plant (the juice of the plant applied by itself, or mixed
with cream, is used as a remedy for ear-ache) ; /us gdraidh, the
garden wort; oi7f, sometimes written orp (French, orfin) ;
tinneas na gealaich, lunacy — finn, sick, and gealach, the
moon. Zeznne Eagla (Threl) = “nn, sickness, Zag, the moon—it
being employed as a remedy for various diseases, particularly
those of women and children, and head complaints. Irish:
Sinicin, tir-pin (sometimes f¢or-fan), a cluster, a bunch. Welsh:
‘lysie pen-ty, house-top plant. Manx: /us-y-thie, the house-plant.

Cotyledon umbilicus—Navel-wort, wall-pennywort. Gaelic:
lamhan cat leacainn, the hill-cat’s glove. Irish: carnan-chaisil
(O’Reilly), carz, a heap of stones, and caisead, a wall (or any stone
building), where it frequently grows. Manx: /us-yn-imleig, navel-
wort.

“The navel-wort was used as a poultice for scalds or pimples
on the arm in the Isle of Man” (ROEDER). It grows on rocks
and walls—the ruins of Iona for example—but only on the west
coast from Argyle southward, and throughout Ireland. It is
easily known by its round peltate leaves.

SAXIFRAGACEE.

Saxifraga —Saxifrage. Gaelic: cloch-bhriseach (Armstrong),
stone-breaker—on account of its supposed medical virtue for that
disease. Welsh: cromil yr englyn.

S. granulata—Meadow saxifrage. Gaelic and Irish: moran,
which means many, a large number—probably referring to its
many granular roots.

8. umbrosa—London pride. Gaelic: cal Phadruic, Peter’s
kai).

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium — Golden saxifrage. Gaelic:
lus nan laogh (the same for Sedum telephium). Irish: clabrus,
from clabar, mud, growing in muddy places; gloiris, from gloire,
glory, radiance—another name given by the authorities for the
“ golden saxifrage ;” but they probably mean Saxifraga aizoides,

‘This is what I always heard it called; but M‘Donald gives xorn and in
the Highland Society’s Dictionary it is given creamh-garaidh, evidently a

translation by the compilers, as they give the same name to the Leek.—
FERGUSSON,

38

a more handsome plant, and extremely common beside the
brooks and rivulets among the hills. Though there are many
beautiful varieties of this order on our Grampian Hills, yet few of
them seem to have arrested the attention of the Highlanders ;
only one or two have Gaelic names, but the rarest of all—Sax7-
Sraga cernua, found only on Ben Lawers—is now known to
guides by the name of Zus Bhetnn Lathur (Ben Lawers’ plant). It
its eagerly sought after by botanists. The lovely S. oppositifolia
is now frequently cultivated in Highland gardens.

Parnassia palustris—Grass of Parnassus. Shaw gives the
name fionnsgoth (fionn, white, pleasant, and sgoth, a flower), “a
flower,” but he does not specify which. Moxnan geal has also
been given as the name in certain districts, which seems to
indicate that fronnsgorh is the true Celtic name.

ARALIACE&.

Hedera—“ Has been derived from /edra, a cord, in Celtic”
(Loudon).

Hedgra helix—Ivy. Gaelic: etdheann, that which holds on—
from (PJedenno, root, ped, to fasten (Macbain); written also
eigheann, eidhne, eitheann.

‘* Spion an ezfheann o'croabh.’’—-OLD PoEM.
Tear the ivy from her tree.

“ Fitheann nan crag.”’---OSSIAN.
The rock-ivy.

“* Briseadh troimh chreag nan eidheann dlw’
Am fuaran Ur le torraman trom.”—-MIANN A BHAIRD AOSDA.
Let the new-born gurgling fountain gush from the ivy-covered rock.
Lidheann mu chrann—tree ivy.
“Gach fiodh ’s a’ choille
Ach eidheann mu chrann’s fiodhagach.”—MAcCuARAIG.

Every tree in the wood,
But the tree ivy and bird cherry.

Irish: Faighleadh, that which takes hold or possession.
Welsh: eiddew (from eiddiaw, to appropriate). Irish: aighnean
(from aighne, affection), that which is symbolic of affection, from
its clinging habit. Gort, sour, bitter—the berries being unpal-
atable to human beings. though eaten by birgs. Zad/uinn (from
zall, a thong, or that which surrounds); perhaps from the same
root as helix Greek: &Aéw (eileo, to encompass); also fadh-

39

shlat, the twig that surrounds—a name likewise given to the
honeysuckle (onicera periclymenum), because it twines like the
‘ivy—
“ Mar tadh-shlat ri stoc aosda.”
Like an ivy to an old trunk.
An gath, a spear, a dart.
The badge of the Clan Gordon.

CORNACES.

Cornus (from Latin: cornu, a horn). Gaelic: corm, French:
corne. “The wood being thought to be hard and durable as
horn.”

Cornus sanguinea—Dogwood, cornel-tree. Gaelic: coin-bhil,
dogwood; conbhaiscne, dog-tree (daiscne, Irish, a tree). Irish:
crann cotrnel, cornel-tree.

C. suecica—Dwarf cornel—literally, Swedish cornel. Gaelic
and Irish: /ws-a-chraots, plant of gluttony (cvaos, a wide mouth ;
gluttony, appetite). ‘‘The berries have a sweet, waterish taste,
and are supposed by the Highlanders to create a great appetite—
whence the Erse name of the plant” (Stuart of Killin). “It is
reported to have tonic berries, which increase the appetite, whence
its Highland name” (Lindley).

UMBELLIFERE.

Hydrocotyle vulgaris—Marsh pennywort. Gaelic: dws xa
peighinn, the pennywort. Irish: Zus na pinghine (O'Reilly), from
the resemblance of its peltate leaf to a pezghimn—a Scotch penny,
or the fourth part of a shilling sterling. Manx: owz.

‘« Cha nee tra ta’n cheyrrey gee yn oww te cheet ree.” —PROVERB.

Time enough for the sheep to eat pennywort when it comes to her.

This plant is said to be injurious to sheep. Welsh: toddaidd
-qven, white rot.

Eryngium maritimum—Sea-holly. Gaelic and Irish: cuilionn
tragha, sea-shore holly. (See Llex aquifolium). Welsh: y mor
gelyn, sea-holly (celynen, holly). Manx: hollyn hraie, sea-shore
holly.

Sanicula europea—Wood sanicle. Gaelic: dodan coille, wood-
tail. Bodan, diminutive of bod (membrum virile), and coille of
the wood. Irish: cavgma. Buine, an ulcer—a noted herb, “to

4o

heal all green wounds speedily, or any ulcers. This is one of
Venus, her herbs, to cure either wounds or what other mischief
Mars inflicteth upon the body of man” (Culpepper). Welsh:
clust yr arth, bear’s ear. Reagha maighe, reagam (O'Reilly). Latin:
regula, to rule. Names given for its potency over diseases, “The
European healer.”

Conium maculatum—Hemlock. Gaelic: minmheur (Shaw)—
smooth or small fingered, or branched; in reference to its foliage ;-
mongach mheur, and muinmheur—mong and muing, a mane, from
its smooth, glossy, pinnatifid leaves. MJinbharr, soft-topped or
soft-foliaged. Lteodha, stteotha—ite, feathers, plumage. The
appearance of the foliage has evidently suggested these names,
and not the qualities of the plant, although it is looked upon still
with much antipathy.

“*Is coslach e measg chaich

Ri zfeodha an garadh.”—MACINTYRE.
Among other people he is like a hemlock in a garden.

‘Mar so tha breitheanas a’ fas a nlos, mar an z¢eotha ann claisibh na mach--
rach.” —Hos. x. 4.
Thus judgment springeth up like a emdock in the furrows of the field.

Welsh: gwin dillad, pain-killer. Manx: aghue.
“*Ta’n aghue veg shuyr da’n aghue vooar.”-—ManxX PROVERB.
The little hemlock is sister to the big hemlock.
(A small sin is akin to the great one).

Cicuta viros1—Water-hemlock. “The hemlock given to
prisoners as poison” (Pliny); and that with which Socrates was.
poisoned. Gaelic and Irish: fead/a dog, the soft deceiver ; fead/,
treason, falsehood ; and feallair (feall fhear), a deceiver—from
the same root (Latin, fa//o, to deceive). Welsh: cegéd. Latin:
cicuta.

Smyrnium olusatrum—Alexanders. Gaelic: Jus nan gran
dubh, the plant with black seeds—on account of its large black
seeds. From its blackness, the name o/usatrum (Latin: olus, a
vegetable, and azer, black). ‘‘‘Alexanders,’ because it was sup-
posed to have been brought from Alexandria” (Ray). Irish:
Ailistrin (Threl). Welsh: dudys, the black plant. It does not
grow further north than Stirling in Scotland, but is frequent in
Ireland, and was formerly cultivated as a pot herb. Manx =
Ollyssyn (Cregan). Alexanders.

Apium (from Latin ag7s, a bee—bee herb, parsley, celery.

41

A graveolens—Smallage, wild celery. Gaelic: /vs na smadlaig,.
a corruption of smallage. earsal mhor, the large parsley. Irish:
meirse. Anglo-Saxon: merse, a lake, sea. Latin: marve—marshy
ground being its habitat. Welsh: persii Frengig, French parsley.

Petroselinum sativum—Parsley. Gaelic: ZearsaZ (corruption
from the Greek werpa, petra, a rock, and oéAuwvoy, se/inon, parsley).
Muinean Mhuire, Mary’s sprouts. Welsh: pers. Fionnas-
garatidh (Macleod and Dewar).

Heliosciadium inundatum—Marshwort. Gaelic: fualactar (from
fual, water). The plant grows in ditches, among water.

Carum carui—Caraway. Scotch: carvie, Gaelic: carbhaidh
(a corruption from the generic name), from Caria, in Asia Minor,
because it was originally found there—also written carbhinn.

** Cathair thalmhanta’s carbhinn chroc-cheannach.”—MACINTYRE.
The yarrow and the horny-headed caraway.

Lus Mhic Cuimetn, MacCumin’s wort. The name is derived from
the Arabic gamoin, the seeds of the plant Cuminum cyminumr
(cumin), which are used like those of caraway.

The badge of the Cumins. ;

Bunium fiexuosum—tThe earth-nut. Gaelic: draonan dbhuachaill,
the shepherd’s drop (or nut); draonan bachlaig (Shaw); cno
thalmhuinn—cno, a nut; thalmhuinn, earth—ploughed land,
ground. Latin: ze//us. Sanscrit: ¢adas, level ground. Irish:
caor thalmhuinn, earth-berry ; cotrearan muic, pig-berries, or pig-
nuts. Cutharlan, a plant with a bulbous root. Cdr/an. Manx:
Curlan. Croa hallooin, earth nut.

Foeniculum vulgare—Fennel. Gaelic: us an ¢-saoidh, the
hayweed. fineal, from Latin, fenum, hay, the smell of the
plant resembling that of hay. Irish: jineal chitmhthra (cumhra,.
sweet, fragrant). Welsh: ffenzg?.

Ligusticum, from Liguria, where one species is common.

L. scoticum—Lovage. Gaelic: s¢unas, from sion, a blast, a
storm—growing in exposed situations. In the Western Isles,
where it is frequent on the rocks at the sea-side, it is sometimes.
eaten raw as a salad, or boiled as greens.

Leivsticum officinale—Commonlovage. Gaelic: Zuibh an liugair,
the cajoler’s weed. It was supposed to soothe patients subject to
hysterics and other complaints. Irish: /us an lagatre, the

42

physician’s plant, from which the Gaelic name is a corruption.
Though thus applicable, the names are only alterations of Lzgus-
ticum, a plant of Liguria. Welsh: dudys, the dusky plant.

Meum athamanticum—Meu, spignel, baldmoney. Gaelic:
mutlceeann. Irish: muticheann, possibly from muz/, a scent; ceann,
ahead or top. JAfucieann is given in some dictionaries as “ fell-
wort,” but “fellwort” (szvertia perennis) is a different plant, and
belongs to the Gentian order. (It is now unknown in Britain, and
has been excluded from our botanical books) The muzztdceann
is highly aromatic, with a hot flavour like lovage. Highlanders
are very fond of chewing its roots.

In Inverness-shire, dricin or dbricin dubh, perhaps from 677,
juice ; or, as mentioned in Lightfoot, vol. i. p. 158, as Sibbald
says it grows on the banks of the Breick Water in West Lothian,
may not some native of the banks of the Breick have given. it this
local name in remembrance of seeing it growing on the banks of
his native Breick?-—FERGUSON.

There was a St. Bricin who flourished about the year 637. He
had a great establishment at Zuaim Drecain. His reputation as
a saint and “o//amh,” or doctor, extended far and wide; to him
Cennfaeladh, the learned, was carried to be cured after the battle
of Magh Rath. He had three schools for philosophy, classics,
and law. It seems very strange, however, that this local name
should be confined to Inverness, and be unknown in Ireland,
where St. Bricin was residing. ‘Bricetn, a prefix to certain
animal names ; from éveac, spotted” (Macbain).

Angelica—(So named from the supposed angelic virtues of
some of the species).

A. sylvestris—Wood angelica. Gaelic: dus nam buadha, the
plant having virtues or powers. Las an lonaid, the umbelliferous
flower, somewhat resembles a churn piston. Irish: cucnneog mhighe,
the whey bucket. Gad/uran perhaps from gal/ (Greek: gala),
milk, from its power of curdling milk ; for this reason, hay con-
taining it is considered unsuitable for cattle. Irish: Contran.
Aingealag: angelica. Gleorann, also “the cuckoo flower.”
Meacan righ fiadhain (O'Reilly).

Crithmum maritimum—Samphire. Gaelic: saimbhir, a cor-
ruption of the French name St. Pierre (St. Peter), from Greek

43

mérpa, a rock or crag. (The samphire giows on cliffs on
the shore). Gaelic: an cndmh tus, the digesting weed;
cnamh (from Greek: xvdw; Welsh: cnoz; Irish: cnaoi), chew,
digest. The herb makes a good salad, and is used medicin-
ally. Irish: grioloigin. Geirgin (O'Reilly). A sea-side
plant growing on rocks and cliffs. From its bitter taste the Gaelic
name is supposed to be derived. Geur, sharp, and in Irish, geive,
‘sourness, tartness. O'Reilly also gives “saphir,” a corruption of
‘samphire. Greinhrigin is given by Threlkeld as the name in
‘Connaught, gairgean cregach in some places. Manx: dus ny greg,
the rock plant.

Peucedanum ostruthium—Great masterwort. Gaelic: mdr
Shtiodh (Armstrong), the large excrescence, or the large chick-
weed.

P. officinale—Hog-fennel or sow-fennel. Gaelic: fineal sraide
{Shaw)—svaiWe, a lane, a walk, a street. This plant is not found
in Scotland, but was cultivated in olden times for the stimulating
‘qualities attributed to the root.

Anethum graveolens—Strong-scented or common dill. Gaelic
and Irish: @i/e (Macdonald) (Latin: didigo)—dile, a word in Gaelic
meaning love, affection, friendship. The whole plant is very
aromatic, and is used for medicinal preparations.

Sium sisarum—Skirrets. Gaelic: cromagan (Shaw), from crom,
bent, crooked, from the form of its tubers. The tubers were
boiled and served up with butter, and were declared by Worl-
ridge, in 1682, to be ‘“‘the sweetest, whitest, and most pleasant
-of roots;” formerly cultivated in Scotland under the name of
““crummock,” a corruption of the Gaelic name. Irish: cearracan
(O’Reilly), applied to the root of this plant and the carrot.

S. angustifolium—Water-parsnip. Gaelic: folachdan (Arm-
strong), from /olachd, luxuriant vegetation; am, water. Irish:
cosaah dubhadh, the great water-parsnip (O'Reilly), (cos, a foot,
stalk, shaft, and dub, great, prodigious),

Pastinaca sativa—Parsnip. Gaelic: meacan-an-righ, the king’s
root, royal root. Curran geal (from cur, to sow, geai, white).
Irish: cuiridin ban, the same meaning (cuzrim, 1 plant or sow).
Welsh: moron gwynion, field carrot. The natives of Harris make
use of the seeds of the wild white carrot, instead of hops, for

44

brewing their beer, and they say it answers their purpose suffi-
ciently well, and gives the drink a good relish besides. ‘‘ There
is a large root growing amongst the rocks of this island—the
natives call it the ‘curran petris, the rock-carrot—of a whitish
colour, and upwards of two feet in length, where the ground. is
deep, and in shape and size like a large carrot.”—-MartTIN.

ZEgopodium podagraria—Goat, gout, or bishop-weed. Gaelic:
us an easbuig—easbuig, a bishop. A name also given to Chrysan-
themum leucanthemum, but with a different signification. Manx:
lus-yn-ollee (cattle herb), considered an unfailing remedy for sores
in the mouths of cattle. us y ghoot, gout weed.

Ferula communis—Finealathaich (O’Reilly) — Fennel-giant-
Athach, a giant, and the name “fennel” from Latin fenum, hay.
Not a native of Britain or Ireland. Cattle are said to be fond of
it. It is a large plant not unlike the wood angelica, with umbelli-
ferous flowers. The plant must have been unknown to the
Highlanders and Irish, and the name is merely a translation.
The old herbalist, Turner (1548), writes thus :—‘Ferula is called.
in Greeke Narthex, but howe that it is named in Englishe, as yet
I can not tel, for I never sawe it in Englande but in Germany in
diverse places. It maye be named in Englishe herbe Sagapene or
Fenel gyante.”

Heracleum sphondylium—Cow-parsnip. Gaelic: odharan,
from odhar (Greek: ®xpa; English: ochre), pale, dun, yellowish,
in reference to the colour of the flower. Aeacan-a-chruidh, the
cows’ plan}. The plant is wholesome and nourishing for cattle.
Gunnachan spitain, squirt-guns. Children’s name for the plant,
because they make squirt-guns from its hollow stems.

Daucus carota—Carrot. Gaelic: curran (any kind of a deep--
rooted plant). Carrazt, corruption from carota, Muran—(Welsh:
moron), a plant with tapering roots. Irish: curran buidhe, the
yellow root.

‘* Muran brioghar ’s an grunnasg lionmhar.”—MACINTYRE.
The sappy carrot and the plentiful groundsel.

Irish: mugoman—mugan, a mug, from the hollow bird’s-nest-like:
flower. Cearracan (see Stum Stsaram).

“The women present the men (on St. Michaelmas Day) with a
pair of fine garters, of divers colours, and they give them likewise
a quantity of wild carrots.”—MarTIN.

45

cerifolium,
Anthricus, vulgaris, —Chervil. Gaelic: costag, a
temulentum,
common name for the chervils (from cos¢, an aromatic plant ;
Greek : xéaros, kostos, same meaning). Costag a bhaile gheamh-
vaidh (bhaile gheamhraidh, cultivated ground). “A. vulgaris was
formerly cultivated as a pot-herb” (Dr. Hooker).

Myrrhis (from Latin myrrha; Hebrew, mar, bitter; Gaelic:
mirr—tus agus mirr, frankincense and myrrh).

The myrrh in the Bible is a fragrant sort of gum which exudes
from various trees in Arabia and other places, the principal being
Balsamodendron Myrrha, the Balsam tree. The Hebrew 7%e77 is
also translated balm in the English version, as in Jeremiah viii.
22—‘‘Is there no da/m in Gilead?” but in the Gaelic Bible it is—
** Nach ’eil zoch-shlaint ann an Gilead ?”

M. odorata—Sweet cicely or great chervil. Gaelic: cos mésge
(Shaw), the scented water-plant. In Braemar it is commonly
called mzrr.—Ep. “Scottish Naturalist.” ‘Sweet chevril, gathered
while young, and put among other herbs in a sallet, addeth a
marvellous good relish to all the rest” (Parkinson).

Coriandrum (a name used by Pliny, derived from «épus, corzs,
a bug, from the fetid smell of the leaves).

C. sativum—Coriander. Gaelic: coiveiman—lus a’ choire, cor-
ruptions from the Greek. It is still used by druggists for various
purposes, and by distillers for flavouring spirits.

. Gnanthe crocata—Irish: dahou ban (Threl) (see Helleborus).

LoRANTHACEE.

Viscum album—Mistletoe. Gaelic: wz/'-ice, a nostrum, a
panacea (Macdonald), all-heal. Welsh: uchefwydd. Irish: wile
iceath, This is the ancient Druidical name for this plant. Pliny
tells us—“ The Druids (so they call their Magi) hold nothing in
such sacred respect as the mistletoe, and the tree upon which it
grows, provided it be an oak. ‘Omnia sanantem appellantes suo
vocabulo” (They call it by a word signifying in their own lan-
guage A//-hea/ ) And having prepared sacrifices, and feast under
the tree, they bring up two white bulls, whose horns are then
first bound ; the priest, in a white robe, ascends the tree, and cuts

46

it off with a golden knife; it is received in a white sheet. Then,
and not till then, they sacrifice the victims, praying that God
would render His gift prosperous to those on whom he had
bestowed it. When mistletoe is given as a potion, they are of
opinion that it can remove animal barrenness, and that it is a
remedy against all poisons.” Druidh-dus, the Druid’s weed. Sigh
an daraich, the sap or substance of the oak, because it derives its.
substance from the oak, it being a parasite on that and other
trees. (Sugh, juice, substance, sap; Latin: succus). Irish: gues,
viscous, sticky, on account of the sticky nature of the berries.
French: gwz.

“The mistletoe,” says Vallencey in his ‘Grammar of the Irish
Language,’ ‘was sacred to the Druids, because not only its berries,
but its leaves also, grew in clusters of three united to one stalk.”

The badge of the Hays.

CAPRIFOLIACEE.

Sambucus nigra—Common elder. Gaelic and Irish ; ruts,
meaning “wood.” “The ancient name of the tree, which in the
vulgar Irish is called trom” (OReilly); driman or droman.
Welsh : ysgawen, elder ; Manx: tramman,

“The common people [of the Highlands] keep as a great secret
in curing wounds the leaves of the elder, which they have gathered
the first day of April, for the purpose of disappointing the charms
of witches. They affix them to their doors and windows.”—C. de
IRYNGIN, at the Camp of Athole, June 3oth, 1651. Used also as
an emetic and purge, frequently planted near houses, hence
another name, Rath fas. (Rath, a town, and fas, growth). It
was considered efficacious against witches, and from it a blue dye
was made.

§. ebulus—Dwarf elder. Gaelic and Irish: fiodh a’ bhalla,
the wall excrescence. AZuldart ‘seems to be the same as the
Welsh word mwyllartaith (mzyl/, emollient). It was esteemed a
powerful remedy for the innumerable ills that flesh is heir to.
Mulabhur. Old English name—Boure tree for the elder, durr, a
clown. Welsh: ysgawen Mair, Mary’s elder.

Viburnum opulus—Guelder-rose, water-elder. Gaelic: céi~-
zocan, heal-wax (Latin: cera; Greek, xnpés; Welsh: cwyr, wax),
the healing, wax-like plant, from the waxy appearance of the

+h

flowers. <Keora con (Threl), dog-nut. Caoir chon, dog berries..
A shrubby tree growing in copses or waterside; with a flower
from two to four inches in diameter, with large white florets round
its circumference. The fruit nearly round, and red. Not com-
mon in the Highlands, but frequently met with in Ireland.

V. lantana—Wayfaring tree. Gaelic: craobh fhiadhain (Arm-
strong), the wild or uncultivated tree.

Lonicera periclymenum—Wocdbine, honeysuckle. Gaelic:
-uilleann, seems to be derived from wleann (elbows, arms,
joints), elbow-like plant Zazthuilleann (O'Reilly), our Gaelic
name Uilleann, and faith, bright, pleasing. eth, feithlean.
Irish: feathlog, feathlog fu chrann, fethlen, from feith, a
sinew, tendon, suggested by its twisting, sinewy stems. Lys
na meala, the honey-plant, from m7 (Greek: pedAr; Latin:
mel), honey. Deolag, or deoghalag, from deothail, to such. Irish:
cas fa chrann,* that which twists round the tree. Baiane
ghamhnaich (O'Reilly), the yearling’s milk. A somewhat satirical
name, implying that the sucking will produce scanty results. In
the Highlands this name is generally given to the red rattle
(pedicularis). In Gaelic zadh shlat is frequently applied both to-
this plant and to the ivy (see Hedera helix), Welsh: gwyddfid,
tree-climber or hedge-climber. Manx: /us-y-chellan, bee herb.
It was supposed, though mistakenly, that bees could reach the
honey. It was considered “Mie dy reayll bainney veih rannagh,
as yn eeym veih dooid” (Kelly’s Dictionary). “Good to keep
milk from stringiness and butter from blackness.” Lus a’ chraois,.
sometimes, but improperly. (See Cornus Suecica).

RUBIACE.
Rubia tinctorum—Madder. Gaelic: madar (Armstrong).

Galium aparine—Goose-grass ; cleavers. Gaelic: gardh lus;
the rough weed. Irish: azrmeirg, from aivm, arms, weapons,
from its stem being so profusely armed with retrograde prickles.
Manx: /us garroo.

G. saxatile (Armstrong)—Heath bedstraw. Madar fraoich,.

‘In Strathardle and many other districts, lewm-a-chrann (leum, jump,
crann, a tree), alluding to its jumping or spreading from tree to tree. High,
Soc. Dict. gives duilliur-feithlean, probably from its darkening whatever:
grew under it.”—FERGUSON.

48

heath madder. It grows abundantly among heather. O'Reilly
gives this name also to G. verum.

G. cruciata—Cross wort, the whirl of four leaves forming a
-cross. The Manx name is a translation, dossan fessen, cross wort.

G. verum—Yellow bedstraw. Ruin, ruamh, from ruadh, red.
Irish: 7 (O'Reilly). “The Highlanders use the roots to dye red
colour. Their manner of doing so is this: The bark is stripped
-off the roots, in which bark the virtue principally lies. Then they
boil the roots thus stripped in water, to extract what little virtue
remains in them; and after taking them out, they last of all put
the bark into the liquor, and boil that and the yarn they intend to
-dye together, adding alum to fix the colour” (Lightfoot).

Lus an leasaich (in Glen Lyon) the rennet weed. ‘“‘ The rennet
‘is made, as already mentioned, with the decoction of this herb.
‘The Highlanders commonly added the leaves of the Urtica dioica
or stinging-nettle, with a little salt” (Lightfoot). Irish: daladh
chnis (O'Reilly), the scented form (da/adh, odour, scent, cneas,
form). Chongullion (Threl)—Cuchullin’s dog. Welsh: Cezéion,
This name must not be confounded with Crios Chu-chulainn.
“Queen of the Meadow,” or “ Meadow Sweet.” O'Reilly also
gives “‘Cucuillean” as a name for the ‘“‘bedstraw.” The same
name given in Glenlyon as /us Chu-chulainn. Manx: lus y volley,

‘sweet herb.

Asperula odorata—Woodruff. Gaelic: /ws-a-chaitheamh, the
‘consumption herb, as it was much used for that disease (Fergus-
on). Probably the Irish name daladh chnis, the scented form, is
the woodruff, and not the lady’s bedstraw ; it is more appropriate
to the former than to the latter. Lus Moleas (Threl)—Probably
he means “ ZLus Afolach.” The rough or hairy plant, correspond-
ing to the Latin name asperwa, or asper, rough. Most of the
‘genus are characterised by whirled leaves, square stems, and
margins of leaves prickly; the common goose grass is a good
example, but the woodruff is less rough than most of them. The
dried plant is very oderiferous, and was formerly used as a

diuretic. It ascends in the Highlands to the height of 1200 feet.

VALERIANACES.

Valeriana officinalis—Great wild valerian. Gaelic: an /r)-
Bhileach (Mackenzie); dus na tri bhilean (Armstrong), the three-

49

leaved plant, from the pinnate leaves and an odd terminal one,
forming three prominent leaflets. Irish: /us xa tr? dallan, the
plant with three teats (da//an, a teat); perhaps from its three
prominent stamens (Brockie); carthan curaigh (carthan, useful,
curaigh, a hero, a giant)—z.e., the useful tall plant. Welsh: y
dlysiewyn, the beautiful plant ; y dri-aglog (dri, three, aglog, burn-
ing ; from its hot bitter taste).

V. dioica—Marsh or dwarf valerian. Irish: carthan arraigh,
from arrach, dwarf; caoirin leana, that which gleams in the
marsh (caoir, gleams, sparks, flames, flashes ; ana, a swamp, a
marsh). Although this plant is not recorded from Ireland, yet the
names only occur in the Irish Gaelic.

V. celtica—Celtic nard. Bachar. Greek: Baxxépis, a plant
having a fragrant root.

V. nardostachys—The true spikenard. Latin: mardus spicata,
z.e., the nard furnished with spikes; Gaelic: spzocnard (Songs of
Solomon, iv. 14). Both these plants were used by the ancients,
not only for their scent, but as a remedy for hysteria and epilepsy
(Lindley).

DIPSACE&.
Dipsacus sylvestris \ Teasel,
5 fullonum Teasel, or fuller’s teasel. Gaelic:

leadan,—liodan ; liodan an fhicadair (leadan or fiodan a head
of hair, fucadair a fuller of cloth); used for raising the nap
upon woollen cloth, by means of the hooked scales upon the
heads of the fuller’s teasel. Irish: ¢aga. Welsh: llysie y cribef,
carding plant, from cvzd, a comb, card. Green dye was made
from it.

Scabiosa succisa—Devil’s bit scabious. Gaelic and Irish :
ura bhallach (ur, fresh, new ; dallach, from ball, a globular body,
from its globular-shaped flower-heads, or dadlach, spotted. This
old Celtic word is found in many languages. Uvach mhullaich,
bottle-topped (wach, a bottle, from the form of the flower-head ;
mullach, top). Odharach mhullaich, a corruption of urach.
(Odhar means dun or yellowish, but the flower is blue). Gvecm
an diabhail (O'Reilly), devil’s bit, from its praemorse root, the
roots appearing as if bitten off. According to the old superstition,

D

50

the devil, envying the benefits this plant might confer on man-
kind, bit away a part of the root, hence the name. Manx: /us-
yn-aacheoid (Ralfe) was reckoned a preservative against the evil
eye. Welsh: y gdafrilys, from clafr, clawr, scab, mange, itch ;
translation of scadiosa, from scabies, the itch, which disorder it is
said to cure.

Knautia arvensis—Corn-field knautia (so named in honour
of C. Knaut, a German botanist) or field scabious. Gaelic: gille
guirmein, the blue lad. Irish: cada deasain, the elegant cap ;
caba, a cap or hood) and deas, neat, pretty, elegant. Bodach
gorm, the blue old man.

CoMPosITz.

Helminthia echioides — Ox-tongue. Gaelic: doglus (Arm-
strong), a corruption from the Irish ; d0/g/us, ox-weed, from Jdolg,
a cow, an ox. A name also given to Lycopsis arvensis. Bog
luibh, same meaning. (Bog and do/g are often interchanged.)

Lactuca sativa—-Lettuce. Gaelic and Irish: “atus, lettuce,
a corruption from dactuca (Latin, Zac, milk), on account of the
milky sap which flows copiously when the plant is cut; /uzbh
inite, the eatable plant. Insh: Jd/eog math, the good leaf.
Welsh: gwylath, gwyfluid, lacth, milk.

L. muralis—Butsan (Threl) wall lettuce, from 44g%, milk,
from the milky juice of the plant. Very rare in the Highlands.
A plant somewhat resembling dandelion.

Sonchus oleraceus—Common sow-thistle, milk-thistle. Gaelic
and Irish: dog ghioghan, the soft thistle. Irish giogan, a thistle.
fofannan min, soft thistle. Bazne muic, sows milk. Manx:
Bainney muck. Cluaran cruidh, cow’s thistle (O’ Reilly).

S. arvensis—Gaelic: béochd fochainn, the corn milk-plant ; dZochd,
milky ; fochann, young corn. Welsh: “aeth ysgallen, milk-thistle
(ysgallen, a thistle).

Hieracium pilosella—Mouse-ear hawkweed. Gaelic: cluas
Zuch, mouse-ear ; cluas lath, the grey ear.

H. murorum—Wall hawkweed. Irish: sxuthan-na-muc (O’Reilly).

Taraxacum dens leonis—Dandelion. Gaelic: Jearnan Bride.

“Am bearnan Bride ’s a’ pheighinn rioghail.”—M ‘INTyrE.
The dandelion and the penny-royal.

Bearn, a notch, from its notched leaf ; “ Bride, from its being in

51

flower plentifully on Zatha fhéill-Bride” (Fergusson). Bride is
also a corruption of Bhrighit, St. Bridget. Latha Fhétill-Brighde,
Candlemas, St. Bridget’s Day. Béor nam bride (dior, sharp,
tooth-like) ; facal leomhain, lion’s teeth. Welsh: dant y lew, the
same meaning as dandelion (dent de lion), from the tooth-like
formation of the leaf. Bladh buddhe, yellow flower. Castearbhan
nam muc (Shaw)—The pigs’ sour-stemmed plant. Irish: cazs-
earbhan, cais t-searbhain, castearbhan (cats, a word of many
significations, but here from cas, a foot; caiseag, the stem of a
plant; searbh, bitter, sour). Manx: Lus-ny-Minnag (entrails
herb), used as a diuretic, and for liver and kidney complaints.
Magenta die made from it.

Cichorium intybus—Succory of Chicory. Gaelic: Jus an t¢-
Sticair, a corruption of cichorium, which was so named from
the Egyptian word chzcouryeh. Pliny remarks that the Egyptians
made their chicory of much consequence, as it or a similar plant
constituted half the food of the common people. It is also
called in Gaelic castearbhan, the sour-stemmed plant.

C. endiva—Endive. Gaelic: eanach gharaidh (eanach, corrup-
tion of exdiva, “from the Arabic name hendibeh” (Du Théis),
garadh,a garden). Searbhain muc (O’Reilly). Welsh: ysgali y
meirch, horse-thistle.

Lapsana communis—Nipple-wort. Gaelic: duilleag mhaith,
the good leaf ; dutlleag mhin, the smooth leaf. Irish: duzZeog
bhrighid, the efficacious leaf, or perhaps St. Bridget’s leaf, the
saint who, according to Celtic superstition, had the power of
revealing to girls their future husbands ; som duilleag, good leaf.
French: herbe aux mamelles, having been formerly applied to the
breasts of women to allay irritation caused by nursing. Dudlleog
bhraghad, or brdighe, the breast-leaf. Manx: Bollan-y-chee,
breast-wort. It was used in the Isle of Man “to promote the
flow of milk into the breasts” (Moore),

“Tf it was used by the French for rubbing the breasts, nothing
seems more likely than that it would be also so used by the
Celts of Ireland and Scotland, which would at once give it the
name of duilleog braghad” (Fergusson).

Arctuim—Celtic: art, a bear. Greek: @pxros, from the
rough bristly hair of the fruit.

52

A. lappa—Burdock. Gaelic and Irish: suirichean sutrich, the
foolish wooer (swiriche, a fool ; suzvich,a lover or wooer) ; seircean’
suivich, affectionate wooer (sere, affection). Secrcean mor.
Bramasagan, cléiteagan. Names given to the “bur,” or heads.
Mac-an-dogha, the mischievous plant (mac-an for mecan,.
a plant); doghadh, mischievous (Shaw). Meacan-tobhach-dubh,
the plant that seizes (¢obhach, wrestling, seizing, inducing ;.
dubh, black, or large). Leadan liosda (leadan, ahead of hair ;
“iosda, stiff). Irish: copag ¢uazthil, the ungainly docken; ceosan,
the bur, or fruit, also c/édan, ceipeanan suiridh.

‘Mar cheosan air sgiathan fior-eun.””-—OSssIAN.
Like bur clinging to the eagle’s wing.

Cocoil (O'Reilly). Manx: Bollan ghoa, sticking wort. “A
favourite remedy for skin diseases and for nervousness ” (Moore).
Welsh: Bribe y dletdd, wolf’s comb.

Carduus heterophyllus—Melancholy thistle. Gaelic: cluas
an fhtidh, the deer’s ear. It was said to be the badge of James I.
of Scotland. A most appropriate badge; but yet it had no con-
nection with the unfortunate and melancholy history of the
Stuarts, but was derived from the belief that a decoction of this.
plant was a sovereign remedy for madness, which, in older times,
was called “melancholy.” “The national emblem ‘the thistle’
was adopted fer the following incident :—The Scottish army lay
encamped on the banks of the river Tay near Stanley. The
enemy, the Norsemen attempted to cross the river by the trap:
dyke in the night time. Happily for the Scotsmen, a Norseman
trampled with his bare feet ona thistle and gave a loud cry of
pain which immediately roused the Scots, who attacked the enemy
and completely routed them.” The place is still known as the:
“ Thistle Brig.”

The plant generally selected to represent the Scotch heraldic:
thistle, is Oxopordon acanthium, the cotton thistle, and, strange-
to say, it does not grow wild in Scotland. Achaius, king of
Scotland (in the latter part of the eighth century), is said to have:
been the first to have adopted the thistle for his device. Favine

1 Dogha also means burnt or singed. It was formerly burned to procure
from its ashes a white alkaline salt, as good as the best potash. English.
“* Dock,” borrowed from the Celtic dogha.—SKEAT.

53

‘says Achaius assumed the thistle in combination with the rue:
the thistle, because it will not endure handling; and the rue,
because it would drive away serpents by its smell, and cure their
poisonous bites. The thistle was not received into the national
arms before the fifteenth century.

C. palustris—Marsh-thistle. Gaelic: clvaran leana (cluaran,
a thistle ; ean, a swamp ;
“ Lubadh cluavan mu Lora nan sion.”—OSssIAN.
Let the thistle bend round Lora of the storms.
Cluaran, a general name for all the thistles; also Giogan.
‘Welsh: ys gallen. Manx: Onnane.

C. lanceolatus—Spear-thistle. Gaelic: an cluavan deilgneach,
the prickly thistle (de¢2gne, prickle-thorn).

C. arvensis—Corn-thistle. Gaelic: aigheannach, the valiant
one (from aighe, stout, valiant /eochdan (O’Reilly).

C. marianus—Mary’s thistle. Gaelic: fothannan beannuichte.
Irish : fothannan beanduighte (Latin: denedictus), the blessed
thistle (so called from the superstition that its leaves are stained
with the Virgin Mary’s milk); fothannan, foghnan, fonndan, a
thistle. Fofannan breach, Bearnan breech (Threl), and fofannan
Muire, all names for this thistle. (C. denedictus was the “blessed
thistle.”)

This Gaelic name for thistle is variously spelt in old Irish
omthann, “raw or rough twig” (Macbain). The thistle is
frequently mentioned in Gaelic poetry.

‘* Leannaibh am foghannan.”—OssIAN
Pursue the thistle-down.

‘« Feadh nan raointean lom ud
Far nach cinn na foth’nain.”

Among these bare hillsides,
Where the thistles will not grow.
M‘Donald has another name, c/uaran dir, the gold thistle.

‘* Gaoir bheachainn bhui ’s ruadha
Ri diogladh chluaran dir.”
The buzzing of yellow and red wasps
Tickling the golden thistle.
It is uncertain to which thistle, if any, the reference is made,
unless it be to Carina vulgaris, the carline thistle. Clvaran,

54

occasionally means a paisy, Chrysanthemum segetum, one of its
names being “az¢han.

‘*Liath chiuaran nam magh.’’—OssIAn.
The hoary thistle (or daisy) of the field.

Here the reference is evidently to the corn-marigold; in all
probability M'Donald refers to the same flower, and not to any
thistle (see Chrysanthemum segetum).

The badge of the Stuart clan.

Cynara scolymns—Artichoke. Gaelic: farusgag, from farusg,
the inner rind, the part used being the lower part of the recep-
tacle of the flower, freed from the bristles and seed-down, and.
the lower part of the leaves of the involucre. Bosan, not un-
likely to be a contraction from J4-/iosan,—bk (bligh), milk (with.
its florets milk was formerly coagulated); and “os, a garden.
These names apply also to Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem arti-
choke, especially to the tubers ; and plur na gréine, to the flower,
from the popular error that the flower turns with the sun.

Centaurea nigra—Knapweed. Gaelic: cnapan dubh, the black
knob (from cwap,a knob). Manx: /us-y-cramman doo (the same
meaning); Welsh and Irish: cmap ; Saxox: cnep, Danish: cnap).
Mullach dubh,the black top. Irish: néansgoth, the daughter’s-
flower (zéan, a daughter ; sgoth, a flower).

C. cyanus—Blue-bottle. Gaelic: gorman, the blue one. In
some places, gi//e-guirmean, the blue lad. Cuvrachd cubhaig, the
cuckoo’s cap or hood. Irish: curac na cuig, the same meaning.
Welsh: penlas wen, blue-headed beauty.

Artemisia vulgaris—Mugwort. Gaelic: ath Jus, the grey
weed. A0dr manta (Shaw), the large demure-looking plant
(mor, large; manta, demure, bashful). JAughard, Mugwort
(mugan, midge wort. Danish: mug, a midge (Skeat). Irish:
bofulan ban, or buafannan ban, the white toad, or serpent (duaf, a
toad ; duafa, a serpent; Latin: dufa, a toad); duafannan Lath,
the grey toad, or serpent. /ongach measga (O'Reilly). Welsh:
“iwydlys, grey weed. Manx: Bollan feaill-Eoin, John’s feast-
wort.

Cows were protected from the influence of fairies and witches.
by having ‘‘dol/an feaill-Eoin” placed on St. John’s Eve in their
houses. It was made into chaplets, which were worn on the
heads of man and beast ; this was supposed to protect them from
malign influences.—(Moore).

55

A. absinthium—Common wormwood. Gaelic: Jduramaide.
Trish dorramotor, also burbun (burrais, a worm or caterpillar ;
maide, wood)—z.e., wormwood Skeat derives it from waremood,
“preserver of the mind,—from its supposed virtues.” Searbh luibh,
bitter plant.

‘* Chuir e air mhisg me le searbh-luibhean.””—S1TUART.
He hath made me drunk with wormwood.

“Mar a’ bhurmaid.”
Like the wormwood.
It was formerly used instead of hops to increase the intoxi-
cating quality of malt liquor. ozde, gall, bitterness. Grddan,
more correctly graban (from Swed. gradéa, to grasp).1 Welsh:
wermod chwerwiys bitter weed.

A. abrotanum—Southernwood. Gaelic: meath challtuinn,
(Meath, Latin mitis,faint, weary, effeminate. Its strong smell
is said to prevent faintness and weariness. Cal/tucun, from cai,
Latin: cala; Italian, cala; French: ca/e, a bay, seashore, a
harbour.) It grows in similar situations to 4. maritima. Lus an
tseann duine, the old man’s plant, frequently used by old people
to keep them awake in church. Irish: surabhan, suramoni, and
Welsh, séwdrmwt. The sour one (saz, sour), and “southern-
wood,” also from the same root. Welsh: Uysier cryff, ale-wort
(cryff, Latin, cervisia, ale), it being sometimes used instead of
hops to give a bitter taste to malt liquors.

Gnaphalium dioieum, G. sylvaticum — Cudweed. Gaelic:
luibh w chait, the cat’s weed. Gnadbh, or cnamh lus, the weed that
wastes slowly (from yvafdA.ov), a word with which Dioscorides
describes a plant with white soft leaves, which served the purpose
of cotton. This well describes these plants. They have all
beautifully soft woolly leaves; and, on account of the permanence
of the form and colour of their dry flowers, are called “Ever-
lasting.”

Filago germanica—Common cotton rose. Gaelic and Irish:
Hath lus roid, the gall (or wormwood) grey weed.

1 The occasional occurrence of Gothic roots in plants’ names in the Western
Highlands and Isles, is accounted for by the conquest of these parts by the
Norwegians in the ninth century, and the fact of their rule existing there
for at least two centuries under the sway of the Norwegian kings of Man and
the Isles. ;

56

Petasites vulgaris—Butter-bur, pestilence-wort. Gaelic and
Irish: ga//an mor, the big branch, possibly referring to its large
leaf. Welsh: Alan-mawr, the big coltsfoot. bal, more cor-
rectly pubal. Welsh: padel, a tent, a covering.

‘¢ Shuidhich iad am pubuzll.”—OssIAN.
They pitched their tents.

The Greek name qeracos,a broad covering, in allusion to its
large leaves, which are larger than that of any other British
plant, and form an excellent shelter for small animals.

Tussilago farfara—cColt’s foot. Gaelic: cluas Hath, grey ear;
gorm liath, greyish green; duiliiur spuing, the tinder-leaf. Billeog
an spuing,

‘Cho tioram ri spuing.”
As dry as tinder.

The leaf, dipped in saltpetre and then dried, made excellent
tinder or touchwood. Gaelic and Irish: fathan or athan, mean-
ing fire. It was used for lighting fire. The leaves were smoked
before the introduction of tobacco, and still form the principal
ingredient in the British herb tobacco. Gadllan-greannchair
(gallan see “‘ Petasites ;’ greann, hair standing on end, a beard),
probably referring to its pappus. Manx: Caddag-ny-hawin, the
river dock. Irish: cassachdaighe (O’Reilly). a remedy for a cough
(casachd, a cough ; aighe or ice, a remedy). ‘The leaves smoked,
or a syrup or decoction of them and the flowers, stand recom-
mended in coughs and other disorders of the breast and lungs”
(Lightfoot). Welsh: carn y ebol (carn, hoof, and eéo/ foal or
colt), colt’s-foot.

Senecio vulgaris—Groundsel. Gaelic: am 4ualan, from dual,
aremedy. ZLus Phara liath,’ grey Peter's weed, a name suggested
by its aged appearance, even in the spring-time. Latin: senecio.
Welsh : den felan, sly woman. Sdil bhuinn (sacl, a heel; buinn,
an ulcer). ‘The Highlanders use it externally in cataplasms as

1In Breadalbane, Glenlyon, and other places, the plant is called Zus
Phara liath ; Lus Phara Lisle—

Prov.—Lus Phara liath cuiridh e ghoimh as a’ chraimh.”
The groundsel will extinguish acute pain in the bone—

it being frequently applied as a cure for rheumatic pains.

57

a cooler, and to bring on suppurations” (Lightfoot). Grunnasg
(from grunnd, ground; German: grund). Welsh: grunsel. Manx:
grunlus.

© Muran brighor ’s an grunnasg lionmhor.”—MACINTYRE.
The sappy carrot and the plentiful groundsel.

Irish: crann lus, the plough-weed. Buafanan na h-easgaran
(éuaf, a toad, a serpent, but in this name evidently a corruption
from dualan, a remedy, or duaidh, to overcome; easgaran, the
plague), a remedy for the plague. A name given also to the
ragwort.

8. palludocis—O’Reilly gives the name Soglus, but he is
wrong; the name does not apply. It is almost extinct now, but
‘sometimes found in the Fen counties of Lincolnshire, Norfolk,
-&c. For Boglus, see “ Lycopsis.”

S. Jacobea—Ragwort. Gaelic and Irish: duadhlan buidhe
(from duadh, to overcome ; duzdhe, yellow); duadhghallan, the
stripling or branch that overcomes ; guiseag bhuidhe, or cutseag,
the yellow-stalked plant ; cuzseag, a stalk. Manx: cushag.

Prov.— Za airh er cushagynn ayns shen.”
There is gold on the ragwort there—

-alluding to its profusion of yellow flowers,

Inula Helenium—Elecampane, said to be from the officinal
name, zula campana, but probably a corruption of Helénula,
Little Helen (Jones). Greek: éAevos, the elecampane. Gaelic:
-aillean sometimes uilleann. Irish: Ellea (Gaelic, Zividh), Helen,
Welsh: elentum. The famous Helen of Troy, who is said
to have availed herself of the cosmetic properties of the plant.
Creamh, sometimes, but more generally applied to Addium ursinum
(which see). The Elecampane is an aromatic plant, with large
-downy leaves something like a docken leaf (copag). Its roots
-contain a white starchy powder called Inuline, from which medi-
-cines were extracted for the cure of dyspepsia and lung affections.
It furnishes the Vin d’ Aulnée of the French. It is still frequently
met with in cottage gardens.

Bellis perennis—Daisy. Gaelic and Irish: wedinean or nodinean,

the noon-flower (from zdéz, noon; Welsh: zawn; Latin: nona,
the ninth hour, from zovem, ninth. The ninth hour, or three in

58

the afternoon, was the noon of the ancients). Manx: neaynin..
Welsh: Z/ygad y dydd, the eye of the day (Daisy).

“San nedinean beag’s mo lamh air cluain.”—MIANN A BHAIRD AOsDA..
And the little daisy surrounding my hillock.

Buidheag (in Perthshire), the little yellow one.

‘*Geibh sinn a’ bhuidheag 'san lon.”—OLD Sona.
We shall find the daisy in the meadow.

It was the belief, of the Celtic people that when an infant was.
taken away from earth a flower—the daisy—was sent. Malvina
lost her infant son, and was inconsolable, sat brooding lonely, and
would not look out even upon the sunshine. At length some of
her attendants returned from a journey full of something new.
They found the sorrowing mother sitting like a statue. “Oh,
Malvina! your infant has come back—a wondrous new flower has
come to earth—white are its leaves near the heart, but nearer the
edges tinged with pink or crimson like an infant’s flesh. When
the wind waves it on the hillside, you might say that there an
infant in play moves from side to side. Oh, Malvina! come:
come and see it.” And Malvina rose and looked upon the flower
—a daisy—and no more mourned, saying, ‘This flower is
Malvina’s son returned, will comfort all mothers that have lost
their infants.”

Chrysanthemum segetum—Corn-marigold. Gaelic: dz/e:
buidhe, the yellow blossom. Sileach coigreach, the stranger or
foreigner. Irish: Bilich chuige. Liathan, lia, the hoary grey
one (from Greek Atos; Welsh: Zwyd), on account of the light-
grey appearance of the plant, expressed botanically by the term
glaucous. Manx: Castag vuigh. Lus airh, gold flower, the flower
being yellow. dm dithean dir, the golden flower, or chrysan-
themum (xpvo0s, gold ; avGos, a flower).

‘* Mar mhin-chioch nan dr dhithean beag.”
Like the tender breast of the little marigold.

“Do dhithean lurach, luaineach,
Mar thuairneagan de'n or.”
Thy lovely marigolds like waving cups of gold.
“ Dithean” is frequently used in a general sense for “flower,” also-
for ‘‘darnel.”

“« Tir nan dithean miadar daite.”
Land of flowers, meadow dyed.

‘¢ Dithean nan gleann.”
The flowers of the valley.

Welsh: gold mair, marigold. Irish: dwafanan buidhe, the yellow

59

toad. losgat (O’Reilly). It was used to soothe throbbing pains:
(Alosg, to throb).

C. leucanthemum—Ox-eye. Gaelic: an’ nedinein mor, the big-
daisy. Am bréinean-brothach (bréine, stench; brothach, scabby).

Ox-eye daisy, called in the Gaelic “ Breinean brothach.” Brein-
ean or brainean also means a king; Welsh, dvenhin. The word’
is now obsolete in the Highlands. Zasduig-ban and easbadh
brothach (the King’s-evil). This plant was esteemed an excellent
remedy for that complaint. Irish: easbuig Speain (Speain or
Easbain, Spain).

Anthemis nobilis—Common chamomile. Camomhil, from the
Greek xapau pndov, which Pliny informs us was applied to the-
plant on account of its smelling like apples. (Spanish: mancznila,
a little apple). Lws-nan-cam-bhil (Mackenzie), the plant with
drooping leaves. A corruption from the Greek.

‘* Bi’dh mionntain camomhil ’s sobhraichean
Geur bhileach, lonach, luasganach.”—MAcINTYRE.

There will be mints, chamomile, and primroses,
Sharp-leaved, pratling, restless.

Luibh-leighis, the healing plant. This plant is held in consider-
able repute, both in the popular and scientific Materia Medica.

A. pyrethrum—Pellitory of Spain. Gaelic: dus na Spdine,
the Spanish weed.

A. cotula—Szne// (Threl), stinking May-weed. Probably szne,.
a teat; and amhuzl, like. The teat-like appearance of its com-
posite flower is very striking; it and others of the chamomile:
tribe were popular cures for swellings and inflammations. Rare
in the Highlands, it is frequent in the South and in Ireland.

A. arvensis—Field chamomile. Irish: coman mionla (coman, a
common ; mionda, fine-foliaged. Gaelic: min lach).

Matricaria indora—Scentless May-weed. Gaelic: duédheag an’
arbhair, the corn daisy. Camomhil fhiadhain, wild chamomile.

M. parthenium—Jeadh duach (O'Reilly), fever few; meadh
drush (Threl). Decoctions of these plants mixed with honey
were formerly in use as cures for fevers and diseases of the
uterus, and other unmentionable complaints.

Tanacetum vulgare—Tansy. Gaelic: lus na Fraing, the
French weed. (French, /anazsie.) Irish: ¢amhsae, corruptions
from Athanasia. Greek: a, privative, and Gavaros, death, ze.,

60

a plant which does not perish—a name far from applicable to
this species). It is also called Jus an righ, the king’s plant. Lus
na fecog (O'Reilly and others). It looks as if “fécog” was the
digammated form of the old Irish e¢ or ewg, death.

Eupatorium cannabinum—Hemp agrimony. Gaelic and Irish:
endib uisge or canaib utsge, water-hemp (from Greek kavvafis ;
Latin: cannabis, hemp. Manx: Kennip. —

Bidens cernua— Bur marigold. Irish: sceachog Mhuire,
Mary’s haw.

Achillea ptarmica—Sneezewort. Gaelic: cruaidh lus, hard
weed. (Latin: crudus, hard, inflexible). Meacan ragaim, the
stiff plant Lus a’ chorrain (Threl), sickle weed. otbhe,
moppy. Welsh: ystrewlys, sneezewort.

A. millefolium—Yarrow. Gaelic: /us chosgadh na fola, the
plant that stops bleeding. Zus na fola, the blood weed ; dus an
tsleisneach (Carmichael). Larr thalmhuinn, that which clothes the
earth (earr, clothe, array). Athair thalmhuinn, the ground
father. Cathair thalmhuinn, the ground seat or chair. Probably
alterations of earr (for thalmhuinn see Bunium flexuosum). Manx:
airh-hallooin. Welsh: milddai/—milfoil (thousand-leaved).

“ Cathair thalmhuinn’s carbhin chroc-cheannach.”—MACINTYRE.
The yarrow and the horny-headed caraway.
LEarr thalmhuinn—The yarrow, cut by moonlight by a young
woman, with a black handled knife, and certain mystic words,
similar to the following, pronounced :—
‘** Good-morrow, good-morrow, fair yarrow,
And thrice good-morrow to thee ;
Come, tell me before to-morrow,
Who my true love shall be.”
‘The yarrow is brought home, put into the right stocking, and
placed under the pillow, and the mystic dream is expected; but
if she opens her lips after she has pulled the yarrow, the charm
is broken. Allusion is made to this superstition in a pretty song
quoted in the “ Beauties of Highland Poetry,” p. 381, beginning—
“© Gun dh’eirich mi moch, air madainn an dé,
S ghearr mi’n earr thalmhuinn, do bhri mo sgéil,
I rose yesterday morning early,
And cut the yarrow because of my misery, \
An duil gu’m faicinn-sa rhin mo chléibh ;
Ochdin ! gu’m facas, ’s a ctl rium féin.”

oI

Expecting to see the beloved of my heart.
Alas! I saw her—but her back was towards me.

The superstitious customs described in Burns’s “ Hallow-e’en,”
were common among the Celtic races, and are more common on
the western side of Scotland, from Galloway to Argyle, in conse-
sequence of that district having been occupied for centuries by’
the Dalriade Gaels.

Solidago virgaurea — Golden rod. Gaelic: /ucnnseog coille?
A name given by Shaw to the herb called “ Virgo pastoris.”
Also one of the names of the mountain-ash (Pyrus aucuparia,
which see.) Manx: s/at-airh (Ralfe) Golden rod.

Jasione montana—Sheep-bit. Gaelic: dubhan nan caora
(O'Reilly). Dudhan, a kidney ; caora, sheep. Putan gorm, blue
button. Manx: duttonyn gorrym, blue buttons. Welsh: clefryn.

Hieracium—Hawkweed, us na seobhaig. Manx: lus ny
shirree, hawkweed.

CAMPANULACEE.
Campanula—Gaelic: darr-cluigeannach, bell-flowered.

“‘Barr-cluigeannach sinnteach gorm-bhileach.”
Bell-flowered extended, blue-petalled.

C. rotundifolia—Round-leaved bell-flower. Gaelic: 702 na
cubhaig, the cuckoo’s shoe. Am pluran cluigeannach, the bell-
like flower. Welsh: 4ysedd ellyilon, imp’s fingers Scotch :
witch’s thimbles. Also in Irish, #éavacan Puca, Puck’s thimbles.

Lobelia dortmanna—Water-lobelia. P/ir an lJochain, the lake-
flower.

ERICACE#.

Erica tetralix—Cross-leaved heath. General name Fraoch,
anciently Ur. Gaelic: fraoch Frangach, French heath. raoch
an ruinnse, rinsing heath; a bunch of its stems tied together
makes an excellent scouring brush, the other kinds being too
coarse. (Fraoch, anciently /raech.) Welsh: griig. Greek:
épérxw, eveiko, to break, from the supposed quality of the species
in breaking the stone (medicinally). The primary meaning seems
to be to burst, to break, and appears to be cognate with the Latin
fractum. Fraoch also means wrath, fury, hunger. “Laoch bu

62

charg fraoch” (Ull.), a hero of the fiercest wrath. “Fraoch!”
fury, the war-cry of the M‘Donalds. Old Irish: /raich. The
Badge of Conn of a hundred fights.
‘‘Leathaid folt fada fratch,
Forbrid canach fann finn.” —-FinN MacCuMHalIL.
Spreads heath its long hair, flourishes the feeble fair cotton grass.

E. vagans.—Cornish heath. Celtic: gooneleg (Dr. Hooker),
the bee’s resort.

E. cinerea.—Smooth-leaved heath. Gaelic: fraoch a’ bhadain,
the tufted heath. Déith fraoch—(Logan)—Our Gaelic word
dluth, close. The leaves are finer than in the other species It
is in its glory in July. Its dark purple is very conspicuous in
that month.

‘Barr an fhraoch bhadanaich.”—OLD SONG.
The top of the tufted heath.

“Gur badanach, caoineil, mileanta,
Cruinn mopach, min cruth, mongonnach,
Fraoch groganach, du-dhonn gris dearg.”—M‘INTYRE.

Literally-—
That heath so tufty, mellow, sweet-lipped,
Round, moppy, delicate, ruddy,
Stumpy, brown, and purple.
Fraoch an dearrasain, the heath that makes a rustling or buzzing
‘sound. Fraoch spreadanach, crackling heather.

The badge of Clan Donnachaidh or Robertson.

E. Hibernica—A m Fraoch Eirionnach—(Canon Bourke) (Hooker)
—The Irish heath. The name is distinctive—not found in Great
Britain, but in Ireland in bog heaths in Mayo and Galway, also on
the Mediterranean shores. The Irish natives delight to sell bunches
of it to travellers.

> Dabeocia polifolia—F7aoch Dhaboch—(Canon Bourke, Don, and

others). St. Dabeoc’s heath. Many of our Gaelic names are
those of saints—St. Patrick, St. Columba, St. Bennett, St.
Bridget, &c. Native of the West of Ireland, on Craig Phadraigh
and other places, but not in Scotland or England. A shrub of
about one to two feet in height.

Calluna vulgaris.—Ling heather. Gaelic and Irish: fraoch.
Manx: “rveogh. Heath or heather is still applied to many im-
‘portant domestic purposes, thatching houses, &c., and “the hardy
Highlanders frequently make their beds with it—the roots down

63

and the tops upwards—and formerly tanned leather, dyed yarn,
and even made a kind of ale from its tender tops.” Langa
{M‘Kenzie), ling. raoch gorm.

The badge of the M‘Donalds.

C. Vulgaris variety Alba—Fraoch geal, white heath. This is
-only the common ling heather that blooms so profusely in August.
‘Occasionally other species are also white, but the ling most
frequently. Colour alone does not form a distinctive variety.
‘There must be something more, and in this case the flowers are
less crowded and smaller. It has always been considered an
emblem of good luck, and became recently more so by the fact
that the late Emperor of Germany is said to have presented our
Princess Royal with a bunch of white heather, gathered on Craig
“Gowan, when he made a momentous proposition to her.

Phyllodoce Menziesia—/raoch nam Meinnearach (Logan),
the yew-leaved heath, called AMenzie heath by Logan, and
he assumes that it was so called because it was the badge
of that clan. It was named Menzzesta in honour of Archibald
Menzies, F.L.S., &c., surgeon and naturalist to the expedi-
tion under Vancouver, in which voyage he gathered many
plants new to botany on the west coast of America, New
Holland, and other countries. Specimens of this heath
were discovered on the Sow of Athol and a few near
Aviemore and Strathspey. The Menzies Clan may have had a
heath for their badge, but most certainly not this one. It is
extremely rare, if not now extinct in our country, though dis-
tributed widely in other countries. For a similar reason the
Mackays may claim Zefralix Mackayi as their badge if they are
‘so minded.

Azalea proeumbens—Zusan Albannach. No English name.
Yet Logan* gives this most indefinite Gaelic name, Lusan Alban-
nach! (Scottish plant). It is a pretty little, heath-like, trailing
plant, with pink flowers, not uncommon in the Highlands at an
altitude of 1500 to 3600 feet.

Arbutus Uva-Ursi—Red bearberry. Gaelic: grainnseag, small,
grain-like. It has small red Jderries, which are a favourite food
for moorfowl. SBraocileag nan con, the dogs’ berry. Lusra na
geire boirnigh (O’Relly), the plant of bitterness ; dozrnzgh, feminine.
(See pezonia.)

The badge of the Clan Colquhoun.

* James Logan, F.S.A.S., author of ‘The Scottish Gael,” Vol. I. p, 300-1-2,

64

A, alpina—The black bearberry. Gaelic: graznnseag dhubh,
the black grain-like berry.

A. unedo — Strawberry-tree Irish : catthne (O’Donovan).
Caithim, I eat or consume.

Vaccinium myrtillus—Whortleberry. Gaelic: vs nan deare,
the berry plant (dearc) a berry). Geur-dhearc, sour berry.
fraochan, that which grows among the heather. The berries are:
used medicinally by the Highlanders, and made into tarts and
jellies, which. last is mixed with whisky to give it a relish for
strangers. Dearcan-fithich, the raven’s berries. It dyes blue.

V. vitis - idea — Cowberry ; red whortleberry ; Gaelic: /us
nam braoighleag. Irish: braighleog (from braigh, top, summit, a
mountain), the mountain-plant ; ordinary signification, a berry.
Bo.dhearc, cowberry. (“86, a cow, from which the Greeks.
derived Boos, an ox”—Armstrong.) Latin: vacca and vaccinium.

“*Do leacan chaoimhneil gu dearcach braoighleagach.”
Thy gentle slopes abounding with whortleberries and cowberries.

Badge of Clan Chattan septs

Andromeda polifolia — Ros-Mairi fiadhaich (Logan), marsh.
andromeda. The Gaelic name means “the wild rosemary.” The
rosemary belongs to a different order (Zadéate). The Andro-
meda grows among our peat bogs from Perthshire southward ;.
from 6 to 12 inches in height ; leaves very leathery ; with white:
or pink bell, or rather heath-like flowers. It produces a very
acrid narcotic, which proves fatal to sheep.

The badge of Clan Rose.

V. oxycoccos—Cranberry. Gaelic and Irish: madleag, a word.
meaning a little frog ; the frogberry. It flourishes best in boggy
situations. Fraochag, because it grows among the heather.
Monog, bog or peat berry. JAfionag, the small berry. “The
cruibin is the cranberry.”—Ed. Gaelic Journal. Manx: smeyr
chyree, the sheep’s bramble.

Badge of the Macaulays,

V. uliginosum—The bogberry. Gaelic: dearc roide, the gall.

1 Originally from dearc, the eye; Sansk., davg, to see. The dark fruit
resembling the pupil of the eye—hence the frequent comparisons of the eye
(szil) to this fruit (dearvcag) in Gaelic poetry.

65

or bitter berry. Manx: Farrane. The fruit abounds with an
acid juice ; when the ripe fruit is eaten, it occasions headache
and giddiness.

Blainsneog—This name is in O’Donovan’s Supplement as the
“‘Bogberry” in Donegal. The Irish name means small flowered,
blath, bloom, and snetdhe, small. Critibin, the cranberry—(Z@.
Gaelic Journal. See Lotus).

The badge of Clan Buchanan.

ILEACE&.

Ilex aquifolium—Holly. Gaelic: cuc/ionn, and Irish, cuclenn.
Welsh: celyz. A.-S.: holegn. (Cin Gaelic corresponds with # in
the Germanic languages.) The leaves of this tree are very
prickly, and thus guard against cattle eating the young shoots.
Welsh: celyn, tree, shelterer or protector ; ce/, conceal, shelter,
cover.

‘* Ma théid thu ruisgte troimh thom droighinn
*S coiseachd cas-lom air preas cuilinn
Cadal gun Iéin’ air an eanntaig,
*S racadal itheadh gun draing ort,” &c.—BLAR SHUNADAIL.

If you go naked through a thorn thicket,
And walk barefooted on the holly,
Sleep without a shirt on the nettle,
And eat horse-radish without a grin, &c.

The badge of Clan Macmillan.

OLEACE.

Diospyros ebenus—Allied to the Holly and the Olive is the
Ebony tree mentioned in Ezekiel xxvii. 15. ‘‘ Thug iad a d’ionns-
uidh mar thiodhlac, adharca deud-chramh, agus eéonz.” It is.
remarkable for its hardness and black colour. Dubh-fhiodh,
Black wood. MHeb.: eden, a stone.

Olea europea—European olive. Gaelic and Irish: crann
oladh or ola (Greek: éAaia, a word according to Du Théis.
derived from the Celtic; Welsh: o/ew), the oil-tree. Sgolog
(O'Reilly).

‘* Sgaoilidh e gheugan agus bithidh a mhaise mar an crann-oladh.”
“He will spread his branches, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree.”--

Hossa, xiv. 6.
E

66

There are two varieties of the olive tree. The w/d olive isa
low spiny tree, the branches of which were grafted on the culti-
vated olive. It is the one alluded to in Romans xi. 17. “Agus
ma tha cuid do na geugaibh air am briseadh dheth, agus gu bheil
thusa, a bha a’d’ chrann oladh fiadhaich, air do shuidheachadh
’nam measg ; agus maille riu a’ faotinn comhpairt do fhreimh agus
do reamhrachd a’ chroinn-oladh.” (And if some of the branches be
broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in
among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of
the olive tree).

Syringa vulgaris—Lilac-tree. Gaelic: craobh lath ghorm.
Manx: ya villey laylac, the lilac tree.

Ligustrum vulgare—Privet. Gaelic: ras chrann stor uaine, the
evergreen shrubbery-tree. Priobaid (M‘Donald). Irish: priobhadh,
formed from “privet” probably named from being formally cut or
trimmed. (Skeat).

Fraxinus excelsior—Ash. Gaelic and Irish: craobh uinns-
eann. Irish: uinseann, uimhseann, altered into fuinse, fuinseann,
JSuinseog

“ Gabhaidh an t-zzanseann as an allt
*S a’ challtuinn as a’ phreas.””—PROVERB.
The ash will kindle out of the burn,
And the hazel out of the bush.

Welsh: onen, onwydden, corresponding to another Irish name,
nion. Gaelic: muin, and also otnseann. Manx: unjin, nion.
The names refer principally to the wood, and the primary idea
seems to be lasting, long-continuing, 0” (in Welsh), that which is
in continuity. Vuzn, also the letter N of the Gaelic alphabet.
Fuinnseann (see Circea), may have been suggested by its
frequent use in the charms and enchantments so common in
olden times, especially against the bites of serpents, and the
influence of the ‘Old Serpent.” Pennant, in 1772, mentions:
“In many parts of the Highlands, at the birth of a child, the
nurse puts the end of a green stick of ash into the fire, and
while it is burning, receives into a spoon the sap or juice which
oozes out at the other end, and administers this to the new-born
babe.” Serpents were supposed to have a special horror of its
leaves.

67

‘* Theid an nathair troimh an teine dhearg
Mu’n teid i troimh dhuilleach an winnsinn.”

The serpent will go through fire, rather than through the leaves of the ash.

It was a most potent charm for cures of diseases of men and
animals—e.g., murrain in cattle, caused, it was supposed, by being
stung in the mouth, or by being bitten by the larva of some moth.
“ Bore a hole in an ash-tree, and plug up the caterpillar in it, the
leaves of that ash are a sure specific for that disease.” Martin
adds, ‘“‘the chief remedies were ‘charms’ for the cure of their
diseases.”

The badge of Clan Menzies, according to some authorities.

Vinca minor—Periwinkle. Gaelic and Irish: Faochag, Paochag
na gille-fuinbrinn, Gilleachafionn, Gilleachfionntruinn, Giorradan
—all dictionary names given for “ A periwinkle.” Which do they
mean—the little univalve whelk of the sea-side or the evergreen
trailing plant Vinca Minor? Shaw gives “Gilleachafionn, peri-
winkle that dyes red.” He clearly means this plant. Logan
gives the second name as a badge plant. But here the difficulty
arises, Where were they to get it? It is not indigenous to the
Highlands, and probably only naturalised south of Stafford. It
is now pretty frequently met with in gardens, rockeries, &c., bear-
ing a pretty blue flower. Manx: Fughage.

The badge of Clan Maclachlan.

GENTIANACEZ.

Gentiana campestris —Field gentian. Gaelic: lus a’ chribain,
the crouching plant, or the plant good for the disease called
cruban, ‘which attacks cows, and is supposed to be produced
by hard grass, scanty pasture, or other causes. The cows become
lean and weak, with their hind-legs contracted towards the fore-
feet, as if pulled by a rope” (Armstrong). This plant, in common
with others of this genus, acts as an excellent tonic; its qualities
were well known in olden times. Welsh: crwyndlys. Gaelic:
creamh, is given also a name for gentian.

‘In Scandinavian mythology the first man was called As, and the first
woman Ambla—ash and elm. The gods is represented in the Edda as held
under an ash—Yggdrasil. Connected with these circumstances probably
arose the superstitions -CHAMBERS’S ENCYCLOPADIA.

68

“ON creanth na charaichean,
Am bac nan staidhrichean.”—MAcINTYRE.
Which Dr. Armstrong translates, “gentian in beds or plots.” The
name crveamh also applies to the leek. Cveamh, hart’s tongue:
fern, garlic, and elecampane. Currachd an Easbuig (Carmichael),
Bishop’s hood or night-cap. Manx: /us-y-vinghagh jaundice:
wort. It was considered a remedy for that complaint.

Erythreza, from epudpos, evythros, red flowers.

E. centaurium—Century; red gentian. Irish: Ceadharlach
(O’Reilly), the centaur. It is said that with this plant Chiron
cured the wound caused by the arrows of Hercules in the
Centaur’s foot. Gaelic, according to Armstrong: ceud bhileach,
meaning hundred-leaved. a corruption of the Irish name (Ceud,
Irish: ceadh,; Latin: centum, a hundred),—the origin of the
name being probably misunderstood. Manx: Keym- Chreest,
Christ’s step. Welsh: Ysgol-Crist, Christ’s ladder. In the four-
teenth century, this plant was called Christ’s ladder (Christi
scala), from the name having been mistaken for Christ's cup:
(Christi schale), in allusion to the bitter draft offered to our Lord
on the Cross. Deagha dearg (Threl).

E, littoralis—Dwarft-tufted century. Gaelic and Irish: dreim-
tre muir, the sea-side scrambler. Dvezm, climb, clamber, scramble,.
muir; Latin: mare, German: meer, the sea.

Chlora perfoliata—Yellow-wort. Gaelic and Irish: dvedmire
buidhe, the yellow scrambler. Not in the Highlands, but found
in Ireland, whence the name.

Menyanthes trifoliata—Bog-bean, buck-bean, marsh trefoil.
Gaelic and Irish: ponair chapull, the horse or mare’s bean. (See:
Faba). Pacharan chapull, the horse or mare’s packs or wallets,
from pac, a pack, a wallet, a bundle 7?i-d/i/each, the three-
leaved plant. Manx: /ubber-lub. “ Lubber-lub ayns y curragh,”
the bog bean in the rushy marsh.

“The Highlanders esteem an infusion or tea of the leaves as.
good to strengthen a weak stomach” (Stuart). The leaves were:
smoked as tobacco.

CONVOLVULAE.

Convolvulus arvensis—Field bindweed. Gaelic: ‘adh Jus, the
plant that surrounds. (See Hedera helix.)

69

€. sepium—Great bindweed. Gaelic and Irish: dui? mhial
(Shaw), from du, catch with a loop; and mal, a louse,—really
‘signifying the plant that creeps and holds by twining.

Calystegia soldanella—Gaelic: F/ilr-a-Phrionnsa, the Prince’s
flower. There is still growing a plant of pink convolvulus in the
Island of Eriskay, Outer Hebgides, said to have been planted by
Prince Charlie when he landed from a small frigate from France
in July, 1745. It is, in consequence, known as “ Piir-a’-
Phrionnsa.”

Cuscuta epilinum—Flax dodder. Irish : clamhainin lin, the
flax kites. It is parasitical on flax, to the crops of which it is
very destructive. C/uhan dearg (Threl). Cunach or (Gaelic)
conach, that which covers, as a shirt, a disease. A general name
applicable to all the species. Welsh: //tvdag, the flax choker.

SOLANACE&.

Solanum dulcamara—Bitter-sweet ; woody nightshade. Gaelic
and Irish: searbhag mhilis. bitter sweet (Highland Society’s Dic.
tionary). /uath gorm, the blue demon (/wazh, hate, aversion, a
demon). Miotag bhuidhe. Irish: miathog buidhe, the yellow
nipper, pincher, or biter Svat gorm (slat, a wand, a switch ;
gorm, blue). Manx: Croan reisht. Dreimire gorm (O’Reilly)—
dreimire, to climb, to ascend as on a ladder; gorm, blue. A trail-
ing climbing plant, 4 to 6 feet high, common in hedges, with its
bloom like the potato flower, with vivid red poisonous berries.
‘The leaves have the same narcotic qualities as tobacco. Not
uncommon in hedges and copses from Islay and Ross southward,
but rare in Ireland. A decoction of it is said to be good for
4nternal injuries.

S. tuberosum—Potato. Gaelic: dun-fafa, adaptation of the
‘Spanish datata. Sir John M‘Gregor has ingeniously rendered the
‘word bun-taghta, a choice root!

Atropa belladona — Deadly nightshade ; dwale, banewort.
‘Gaelic and Irish: lus na h-oidhche, the nightweed, on account of
its large black berries and its somniferous qualities. Buchanan
relates the destruction of the army of Sweno, the Dane, when he
‘invaded Scotland, by the berries of this plant, which were mixed
with the drink with which, by their truce, they were to supply

7O

the Danes, which so intoxicated them that the Scots killed the
greater part of the Danish army while they were asleep. Welsh:
y gysiadur, the putter to sleep. Zws na dih mor (Threl). Lindley
says—“ It produces intoxication, accompanied by fits of laughter
and violent gestures; great thirst, convulsions, and death.” Hence,
I suspect, the origin of the name in Irish Gaelic. The “ah” for
dibhe, drink. The plant of the big thirst.

Madragora officinalis—Mandrake. JJ/andrag. Another plant of
the tobacco and nightshade order, and possessing the narcotic
qualities of some of the plants of that order, especially as a cure
for insomnia. Levinus Leminus reports ‘‘that, sitting in his study,
upon a sudden he became drowsy and found the cause to be the
scent of one of the apples of the mandrake, which had lain on the:
shelf therein, which being removed the drowsiness ceased.” It
had an exaggerated reputation as an aphrodisiac, which the story
of Rachel confirms (Genesis xxx.)

Hyoscyamus niger — Henbane. Gaelic and Irish: gagaw
gafann (gabhann), the dangerous one. Detheogha, deodha, deo,.
breath, that which is destructive to life. Caothach-nan-cearc, that
which maddens the hens. Its seeds are exceedingly obnoxious.
to poultry, hence the English name henbane. The whole plant is.
a dangerous narcotic. Welsh: Zéewyg yr jar, preventing or
curing faintness Manx: Connagh ny giark, lus ny meisht.

Nicotiano tobacum—Tobacco. Gaelic: fombac. ‘“ Tombac”
and many other Gaelic and English names are alterations of the
scientific names. Similarly “tea,” (¢). Armstrong defines tea as.
“Lus otrthireach ainmeil air nach urrainn mise Gaidlig a chur ach
sigh-luib, an sigh lus, brigh an t-sugh luibh.” A famous Oriental
plant, which I am not able to give any Gaelic but the juice plant
or decoction herb.

SCROPHULARIACEA.

Verbascum thapsus—Mullein ; hag’s taper; cow’s lungwort.
Gaelic and Irish: cudneal Afhuive, or cuingeal Mhuire from cuing,.
asthma, or shortness of breath. Bo-choinneal, cow's candle. In
pulmonary diseases of cattle it is found to be of great use, hence
the name, cow’s lungwort, or cuimge, narrowness, straightness,
from its high, tapering stem. (JZhuire, Mary’s).

Veronica beccabunga—Brooklime. Gaelic: Zochal, from Joch,

71

a lake, a pool, pool-weed or lake-weed, being a water-plant.
Lothal (lo, water). Trish: Lochal mothair; Irish: btolair Mhuire,
Mary’s cress. Welsh: //ychlys y dwfr, squatter in thé water.

V. officinale—Common speedwell. Gaelic and Irish: /us cré,
the dust weed. Seamar chré (see Oxalts)

V. anagallis—Water-speedwell. Irish: /ualachter, fual, water,
the one that grows in the water.

V. chamoedrys—Moulough (Threl), nuallach (O'Reilly), geri-
mander speedwell.

A small trailing plant, growing almost everywhere, and ascend-
ing the mountains to the height of 2700 feet. The flower is
bright blue, scarcely half an inch in diameter, and small hairy
hearts-haped leaves, deeply toothed. This plant was used medi-
cinally on account of its acrid, bitterish taste, causing stomachic
pains Muall a howling cry, may have originated the names.

Euphrasia officinalis—Eyebright. Gaelic: /us nan leac, the
hillside plant ; Zeac, a declivity. Soillseachd nan sitl, soillse nan
sal (M‘Donald), that which brightens the eye. Rein an ruisg
(Stuart), water for the eye. Glan ruts, the eye-cleaner. Lightfoot
mentions that the Highlanders of Scotland make an infusion of
it in milk, and anoint the patient’s eyes with a feather dipped in
it, as a cure for sore eyes. Irish: radharcain (radhairc), sense
of sight. Zin radharc (lin, the eye, wet), the eye-wetter or washer. ©
Raeimin-radhairc (reim, power, authority), that which has power
over the sight. Roisnin, rosg, the eye, eyesight. Cacimin
(caoimh), clean. Manx: lus y tooill. Welsh: gloywlys, the
bright plant. ‘’Ziysieuyn eufras, the herb Euphrasia (from
evppatvw, euphraino, to delight, from the supposition of the plant
curing blindness). Arnoldus de Villa saith, ‘It has restored
sight to them that have been blind a long time before; and if it
were but as much used as it is neglected, it would half spoil the
spectacle trade” (Culpepper).

Pedicularis sylvatica—Dwarf red rattle. Irish: /usan grolla.

P, palustris—Louse-wort ; red rattle. Gaelic: lus riabhach,
the brindled plant, possibly a contraction of riabhdheargach (Irish),
red-streaked, a name which well describes the appearance of the
plant. M@odhalan dearg, the red modest one. Lus na mial,
_ louse-wort, from the supposition that sheep that feed upon it

72

become covered with vermin. Bainne ghabhar, goat’s milk,
from the idea that when goats feed on it they yield more milk.
Its beautiful pink flowers were used as a cosmetic.
‘* Sail-chuach ’s bainne ghabhar,
*Shuadh ri t-aghaidh,
’S cha ’n ’eil mac righ air an domhain,
Nach bi air do dheidh.”

Rub thy face with violet, and goat’s milk,
And there is no prince in the world
Who will not follow thee.
Milsean monah (Threl). Baine ghamhnach is given for the
honeysuckle in Ireland, whereas in the Highlands it is often
applied to the red rattle.

Rhinanthus crista galli—The yellow rattle. Gaelic: modh-
alan bhuidhe, the yellow modest one. Bodach nan claigionn,
or (Irish) coigionn, a skull, from the skull-like appearance of its
inflated calyces. G/aodhran, given in the dictionaries for this
plant, also for wood sorrel, meaning a rattle.

Antirhinum orontium—Snapdragon, Sviumh na laogh (Threl),
meaning calf’s snout. Known only in Scotland in gardens, but
not uncommonly met with in the south of England, but rare in
Treland as a wild flower. In fact, it is only a colonist from the
Continent. Turner, the herbalist (1548), wrote : ‘‘ Antirhinon
groweth in many places of Germany in the corne fieldes, and it
maye be called in Englishe calfe snoute.” The Welsh have the
same name, ¢rwynz y lo. Manx: b/aa daanee, calf’s flower. By
“ Syiumh” Threkeld means srudf, the Irish for snout.

Scrophularia nodosa—Figwort. Gaelic: Jus nan cnapan, the
knobbed plant, from its knobbed roots. Old English: kernel.
wort. Donn-lus (Dun-lus, O’Reilly), brown-wort, from the brown
tinge of the leaves. Farach dubh—dubh, dark. Irish: fotrum
(fot, fothach), glandered—from the resemblance of its roots to
tumours. In consequence of this resemblance it was esteemed a
remedy for all scrofulous diseases; hence the generic name
Scrophularia.

Digitalis purpurea—Foxglove. Gaelic: /us-nam-ban-sith, the
fairy women’s plant. Mewran sith (Stuart), the fairy: thimble.
Irish: an stothan (stoth, Gaelic: sith) means peace. Sizhich, a
fairy, the most active sprite in Highland and Irish mythology.

73

_Meuran) nan daoine marbh, dead men’s thimbles. Meuran nan
cailleacha marbha, dead women’s thimbles. In Skye it is called
clochan nan cailleacha marbha (Nicolson), the dead old women’s
paps. Irish: szam (or stonn, Threl) sleibhe. (Sian, a charm or
spell, a wise one, a fox; s/ezbhe, a hill). Welsh: menyg edlyllon,
fairy glove. O’Reilly gives another Irish name, Jo/ean dete (diminu-
tive of do/g,a sack,a bag. And frequently in the Highlands
‘the plant is known by the familiar name, az Jus mor, the big
plant. us a’ bhalgair (in Aberfeldy), Meregan na mna sidhe,
(Threl), the fairy woman’s thimbles or fingers. Manx: s/eiggan-
.shleeu, Cleaver sharpener. Its leaves were applied to bring boils,
-&c., to a head (Moore).

OROBANCHACE

(From Greek, opofes, orobos, a vetch, and pAyéww, to strangle, in
allusion to the effect of these parasites in smothering and destroy-
‘ing the plants on which they grow.) The name muchog (from
much, smother, extinguish, suffocate) is applied to all the species.

QO. major and minor—Broom-rape. and Irish Gaelic: séorra-
tach (Shaw)—sior, vetches, being frequently parasitical on legu-
minous plants; or séorrachd, rape.

VERBENACEA.

Verbena officinalis— Vervain. Gaelic and Irish: /¢rom-
bhoid,—trom, a corruption of drum, from Sanscrit ddru,
wood; hence Latin, drvus, an oak, and ddid, a vow. Welsh:
aderwen fendigaid, literally, blessed oak—the “herba sacra” of
the ancients. Manx: vervine. ‘It was the most potent of all
herbs in nullifying the effects of all malign influences. Vervain
was taken by the fishermen in their boats to bring good luck.
Mr. Roeder says it was sewn into babies’ clothes, to protect them
against fairies, and a tea was made of it by grown-up people for
the same purpose” (Moore). Vervain was employed in the reli
gious ceremonies of the Druids Vows were made and treaties
ratified by its means “Afterwards all sacred evergreens, and
aromatic herbs, such as holly, rosemary, &c., used to adorn the
altars, were included under the term verbena” (Brockie). This

1 Meuran and digitalis (digitabulum), a thimble, in allusion to the form of
the flower.

74

will account for the name ¢rombhdid being given by O’Reilly as
“vervain mallow ;” MacKenzie, “‘ladies’ mantle;” and Armstrong,
“vervain.” Verbena—Latin: verdena, sacred bough.

Borlase, in his ‘Antiquities of Cornwall,” speaking of the
Druids, says: ‘They were excessively fond of the vervain; they
used it in casting lots and foretelling events. It was gathered at
the rising of the Dog-star.”

LaBiaT&.
(From Latin, /aézum, a lip, plants with lipped corolle). Gaelic:
lusan lipeach, or bileach.

Mentha—(From Greek Miv6a, mintha. A nymph of that
name who was changed into mint by Proserpine in a fit of
jealousy, from whom the Gaelic name mount has been derived.)
Welsh: mynzy's,

M. sylvestris—Horse mint Gaelic: mzonnt etch, horse mint:
mionnt fhiadhain, wild mint; and if growing in woods, mzonnt
chotlle, wood mint.

M. arvensis—Corn-mint. Gaelic: mionnt an arbhair, corn
mint.

M. acquatica—Water-mint. Gaelic: cairtea/. Irish: carta/,
cartloin, probably meaning the water-purifier, from the verb-
cartam, to cleanse, and /ozn, a rivulet, or Zon, a marsh or swampy
ground. A@is¢mean dearg (Armstrong), the rough red mint. The
whole plant has a reddish appearance when young.

M. viridis—Garden-mint, spear mint. Gaelic: méonnt gha-
vaidh, the same meaning; and meannfas, another form of the
same name, but not commonly used.

‘* Oir a ta sibh a toirt an deachaimh as a’ mAzonnt.”—STUART.
For ye take tithe of mint.
M. pulegium— Pennyroyal. Gaelic: peighinn rioghail, the
same meaning.
‘*“ Am bearnan bride ‘s a’ pheighinn rioghail.”—MACINTYRE.
The dandelion and the Jennyroyal.
Manx: /urgeydish. Welsh: coluddlys, herb good for the bowels.
Dail y gwaed, blood leaf.

Calamintha—Gaelic: calameilt (from Greek, xaAéds, beautiful ;

and piv@a, mintha, mint), beautiful mint.

75

C. clinopodium—Basil Tyme calamint. Zus an righ—The
king’s mint, agreeing with Basil (das¢/icus, royal).

Rosmarinus officinalis — Common rosemary. Gaelic: rds
Mhuire. Trish: ros-mar—mar-ros, sea dew, corruptions from the
Latin (vos, dew, and marinus), the sea-dew. Rds Mhdiri, Mary's.
Tose, or rosemary. Welsh: vos Mair. Among Celtic tribes rose-
mary was the symbol of fidelity with lovers. It was frequently
worn at weddings. In Wales it is still distributed among friends.
at funerals, who throw the sprigs into the grave over the coffin.

Lavendula spica—Common lavender. Gaelic: Jus-na-tilise,
the incense plant, on account of its fragrant odour. Ax lus hath,.
the grey weed. Lothail, ‘‘ uisge an lothail,” lavender-water.

Satureia hortensis—Garden savory. Gaelic: garbhag ghar-
aidh, the coarse or rough garden plant, from gardf, rough, &c.

Salvia verbenacea—Clary. The Gaelic and Irish name, /orman,
applies to the genus as well as to this plant; it simply means.
“the shrubby one” (¢or, a bush or shrub). The genus consists
of herbs or undershrubs, which have generally a rugose appear-
ance. A mucilage was produced from the seeds of this plant,
which, applied to the eye, had the reputation of clearing it of
dust ; hence the English name, “clear-eye,” clary.

S. officinalis—Garden-sage (of which there are many varieties).
Gaelic: athair liath, the grey father. Sdaisde (from sage). Slan lus,
the healing plant, corresponding with sa/via (Latin: salvere, to
save). It was formerly of great repute in medicine. Armstrong
remarks: ‘Bha barail ro mhor aig na seann Eadailtich do ’n lus
so, mar a chithear o’n rann a leanas—

‘* Cur moriatur homo cui salvia crescit in horto?”

C’ arson a gheibheadh duine bas,
Aig am bheil sdzsde fas na gharadh ?

Why should the man die who has sage growing in his garden?

Teucrium scorodonia — Wood-sage. Gaelic: sdisde coille,
wood-sage. Sdisde fiadhain, wild sage. O’Reilly gives the name
ebeirsluaigh, perhaps from odar, shall be refused, and s/uagh,
people, multitude, because it did not possess the virtues attributed
to the other species, and even cattle refused to eat it. But it was
used as a cure for dysentry. Manx: lus y toar-vrein, bad smell
herb ; creaghlagh. Welsh: saets gwyl/t, wood-sage.

76

Thymus serpyllum—Thyme, wild thyme. Gaelic and Irish:
lus mhic righ Bhreatainn, the plant belonging to the king of
Britain’s son, This plant had the reputation of giving courage
and strength through its smell; hence the English thyme (from
Greek : Guyés, ¢hymos, courage, strength—virtues which were
essential to kings and princes in olden times). Highlanders take
an infusion of it to prevent disagreable dreams. Welsh: ¢ezm.

a marjorana
Origanum| vulgare
gan, the delight of the mountain. Greek: opos, ovos. Gaelic:
ord, a mountain; and Greek ydvos, ganos, joy. Gaelic: gaz,
clapping of hands. Zuws Mharsali, Marjorie’s plant. Seathbhog,
the skin or hide softener (seathadh, a skin, a hide, and dag, soft).
“The dried leaves are used in fomentations, the essential oil is so
acrid that it may be considered as a caustic, and was formerly
used as such by furriers” (Don). Welsh: y denrudd, ruddy-
headed.

0. dictamnus—Dittany. The Gaelic and Irish name, Zus a’
phiobaire—given in the dictionaries for ‘‘dittany”—is simply a
corruption of dus a’ pheubair, the pepperwort, and was in all
probability applied to varieties of ZLefzdium as wellas to Origanum
dictamni creti, whose fabulous qualities are described in Virgil’s
12th ‘ 4neid,’ and in Cicero’s ‘De Natura Deorum.’

} —Marjoram, Gaelic and Irish: ova-

Hyssopus officinalis—Common hyssop. Gaelic: iso. French:
hysope. German, 7sop. Italian: zsopo (from the Hebrew name,
ezob, or Arabian, azaf.

“* Glan mi le 4-2sop, agus bithidh mi glan.”
Purge me with Ayssof, and I shall be clean.

There have been great differences of opinion regarding the
plant meant by the Ayssop of the Bible. The best authority,
Royle has come to the conclusion that it is the Capparis spinosa
‘or capper plant. It grows best on barren soil, old wells, and
precipices. It is very bitter and pungent to the taste.

Ajuga reptans—Bugle. Gaelic: meacan dubh fiadhain (Arm-
strong), the dusky wild plant. Welsh: glesyn y coed, wood-blue.

Nepeta glechoma—Ground-ivy. Gaelic: tadh-shlat thalmh-
uinn, the ground-ivy. (See Hedera helix. and Bunium flexuo-
sum). Nathair-lus, the serpent-weed—it being supposed to be

77

efficacious against the bites of serpents ; hence the generic name,
Nepeta from nepa, a scorpion. Irish : azgnean thalmhuinn, eidhn-
ean thalmhuinn (see Hedera helix). Manx: airh halooin, ard-
lossery, chief herb. Irish: Azthir Jus (O'Reilly). It was for-
merly used for hops to make ale bitter, hence the name
of *ale-hoof.” It is a creeping, trailing plant with ivy-like leaves
and a small blue flower, very common as a garden weed. Welsh:
eidral palf y lew, the lion’s paw. ‘It was used for purifying the
blood, and for coughs” (Moore).

Ballota niger—Stinking horehound. Irish and Gaelic: grd-
fan or graban dubh, the dark opposer (grad, to hinder or obstruct).
It was a favourite medicine for obstructions of the viscera: or it
may refer to grad, a notch, from its indented leaves.

Lycopus europoeus—Water-horehound. Irish: feoran curraidh,
the green marsh-plant (cuzvach, a marsh).

Marrubium vulgare—White horehound. Gaelic and Irish:
grafan or graban ban. (See Ballota niger). Orafoirt (O'Reilly).
This plant has for ages been a popular remedy for coughs, rough-
ness in the throat, and for more severe forms of colds; and infusions.
of it in lozenges are still used by speakers and singers for the voice,
hence by inference the origin of the Gaelic name, adapted from
the Latin oratio, speech, and fortis, strong. Horehound was
dedicated to the Egyptian god Horus (Strabo). The Irish name
may be a derivitive. This plant is not found in the Highlands,
and it is rare in Ireland.

Lamium album — White dead nettle: archangel. Gaelic:
teanga mhin, the smooth tongue. Jonntag bhan, white nettle.
Lonntag mharbh, dead nettle. (For donntag see Urtica.)

L. purpureum — The red dead-nettle. Gaelic: sonntag
dhearg, red nettle.

L. amplexicaule—Henbit dead nettle. eantog heogh (Threl).
Welsh: marddanadlen goch cylchddail, red round-leaved dead
nettle,

Galeopsis tetrahit—Common hemp-nettle. Gaelic: an gatk
dubh, the dark bristly plant (ga/A, a sting, a dart). It becomes.
black when dry, and has black seeds.

G. versicolor—Large-flowered hemp-nettle. Gaelic: ax gath
buidhe—an gath mor, the yellow bristly plant—the large bristly

78

plant. Abundant in the Highlands, and troublesome to the
reapers at harvest-time, from its bristly character. It is called
yellow on account of its large yellow flower, with a purple spot on
the lower lip.

Stachys betonica —Wood-betony. Gaelic: lus Bheathaig,
from beatha. Latin: vita, life food. “ Betonic, a Celtic word ;
ben, head, and ton, good, or tonic’ (Sir. W. J. Hooker). Probably
the vetfones of (Pliny), a Gaulish name. ‘A precious herb, com-
fortable both in meat and medicine” (Culpepper). Glasair choille,
the wood salad. The green leaves were used as a salad: any
kind of salad was called g/asag or glasatr.

S. sylvatica—Wound-wort. Gaelic: /us nan sgor, the wound-
wort (sgor, a cut made by a knife or any sharp instrument).
Inish : caubsadan.

8. palustris—Cuslin gaun dauri (Threl), woundwort. The
woundwort got its English name from its wound-healing and
blood-stopping qualities. Most likely Threlkeld means Cuts/ean
gun doruinn (the old Irish word dogra, anguish). Veins without
pain. Boys frequently use its leaves to stop bleeding and to
soothe pain. Welsh: &7zwlys, woundwort.

Prunella vulgaris—Self-heal. Gaelic and Irish: dubhan ceann
chosach, also dubhanuith. These names had probably reference
to its effects as a healing plant. “It removes all obstructions of
the liver, spleen, and kidneys” (duéhan, a kidney, darkness ;
ceann, head, and csach, spongy or porous). S/aén dus, healing
plant. us a’ chridh, the heart-weed. Irish: ceanabhan-beg, the
little fond dame; cean, fond, elegant, and dan, woman, wife,
dame.

BoRAGINACES.

Borago officinalis—Borage. Gaelic and Irish: dorrach. bor-
raist, borraigh, all these forms are supposed to be derived from
borago, altered from the Latin, cor, the heart, and ago, to act
or effect. (But probably from Latin, 4u77a, rough hair, which is
a characteristic of this family). The plant was supposed to give
courage, and to strengthen the action of the heart; “it was one
of the four great cordials.” ovr in Gaelic means bully or
swagger ; and dorrach, a haughty man, a man of courage. Welsh:
Jlawenllys (dlawen, merry, joyful), the joyful or glad plant.

79

Lycopsis arvensis— Bugloss. Gaelic: lus teang’-an-daimh,
ox-tongue. Bog/us, corruption of 40/2, an ox ; /us, a plant. Welsh:
tafod yr ych, the same meaning ugloss, from Greek Bovs, Gous,
an ox, and yAoowa, glossa, a tongue, in reference to the roughness
and shape of the leaves.

Myosotis palustris—Marsh scorpion-grass or forget.me-not.
Gaelic and Irish: cotharach, the protector (cothadh, protection) ;
perhaps the form of the racemes of flowers, which, when young,
bend over the plant as if protecting it. Las nam mial, the louse-
plant—probably a corruption of mzagh, esteem. Lus midhe
(O’Reilly), a sentimental plant that has always been held in high
esteem.

Symphytum officinale—Comfrey. Gaelic: meacan dubh, the
large or dark plant. Irish: dus na ccnamh briste, the plant for
broken bones. The root of comfrey abounds in mucilage and
was considered an excellent remedy for uniting broken bones.
“Yea, it is said to be so powerful to consolidate and knit together,
that if they be boiled with dissevered pieces of flesh in a pot, it
will join them together again” (Culpepper).

Echium vulgare—Viper’s bugloss. Aoglus (see Lycopsis) and
lus na nathrach, the viper’s plant.

Cynoglossum officinale—Common hound’s tongue. Gaelic
and Irish: ‘eanga con (O'Reilly). Teanga ’choin, dog’s-tongue.
Welsh: ¢afod y ci, same meaning. Greek: cynoglossum (xvwv,
kyon, a dog, and yAwooa, g/ossa, a tongue), name suggested from
the form of the leaves.

PINGUICULACE.

Pinguicula vulgaris—Bog-violet. Gaelic: drdg na cubhaig,
the cuckoo’s shoe, from its violet-like flower. Badan measgan,
the butter-mixer; dadan, a little tuft, and measgan, a little
butter-dish ; or measg, to mix, to stir about. On cows’ milk it
acts like rennet. Lus a’ bhainne, the milk-wort. It is believed
it gives consistence to milk by straining it through the leaves.
Oachdar, surface, top, cream—a name given because it was
supposed to thicken the cream. Mdthan or moan (Lightfoot).
“ Buainidh mise a’ mdthan, an luibh a bheannaich an Domhnach ;
fhad ’a ghleidheas mi a’ mdthan cha’n ’eil beo air thalamh gina

80

bheir bainne mo bhd bhuam.” (I will pull the bog violet, the
herb blessed by the Church. So long as I preserve the bog violet,
there lives not on earth one who will take my cow’s milk from me).
These words were spoken whilst pulling the plants on a Sunday,.
as a charm against witchcraft (Mackenzie).

PRIMULACEZ.
Primula vulgaris—Primrose. Gaelic: sobhrach. Ir.: sobhrog:

“A shobhrach, geal-bhui nam bruachag,
Gur fan-gheal, snuaghar, do ghniis !
Chinneas badanach, cluasach,
Maoth-mhin, baganta luaineach.

Bi'dh tu t-eideadh ’san earrach
*S cach ri falach an sul.”-—MACDONALD.
Pale yellow primrose of the bank,
So pure and beautiful thine appearance !
Growing in clumps, round-leaved,
Tender, soft, clustered, waving ;
Thou wilt be dressed in the spring
When the rest are hiding in the bud.
Early Irish: sodrach.
“A befind in raga lim

I tir n-ingnad hifil rind ?

Is barr sobairche falt and,

Is dath snechtu chorp coind.”

O lady fair, wouldst thou come with me

To the wondrous land that is ours ?

Where the hair is as the blossom of primrose,

Where the tender body is as fair as snow.

—From the “ Wooing of Etain, an Old Saga.”—Dr. Hype.

Soradh, sotrigh, are contractions; also samharcan. Irish: sam-
harcan (samhas, delight, pleasure).
“Am bi na sdbhraichean ’s neoinean fann.”—OLD SONG.

‘* Gu tric anns ’na bhuain sinn an t-sdrach.”’-—MUNRO.
Often we gathered there the primrose.

Manx: sumark. Welsh: briollu—briol, dignified ; al/wedd, key..

“The queenly key that opens the lock to let in summer”
(Brockie).

P. veris—Cowslip. Gaelic: muisean, the low rascal, the devil.
“ 4’ choire mhutseanatch,” a dell full of cowslips. Cattle refuse
to eat it, therefore farmers dislike it. Brdg na cubhaig (Mac-
kenzie), the cuckoo’s shoe. Irish: setchearlan, seichetrghin

SI

seicheirghlan, from seiche, hide or skin. It was formerly boiled,
and “an ointment or distilled water was made from it, which
addeth much to beauty, and taketh away spots and wrinkles of
the skin, sun-burnings and freckles, and adds beauty exceed-
ingly.” The name means the “skin-purifier.” Bazune bd bhuidhe,
the yellow cow's milk. Baznne bd bleacht, the milk-cow’s milk.
Manx: mez/ baa, cow’s lip.

P. auricula—Auricula. Gaelic: Jus na bann-righ, the queen’s
flower. Sdbhrach chluasach, the ear-like primrose, formerly called
bear’s ears.

P. polyanthus—Winter primrose. Gaelic: Sddhrach gheamh-
raidh,

Cyclamen hederzfolia—Sow-bread. Gaelic: cudurin (perhaps
from cud or cullach, a boar, and aran, bread), the boar’s bread.

Lysimachia (from Greek Avow paxdpat, I fight).

L. vulgaris—Loose-strife. Gaelic and Irish: Zus na sithchatne,
the herb of peace (sith, peace, rest, ease ; cdin, state of). Con-
aire, the keeper of friendship. The termination “aire” denotes
an agent ; and conad//, friendship, love. Ax setleachan buidhe, the
yellow willow herb.

L, nemorum—Wood loose-strife ; yellow pimpernel. Gaelic
and Irish: seamhair Mhuire (seamhair, seamh, gentle, sweet, and
JSeur, grass ; seamhrog (shamrock), generally applied to the trefoils
and wood-sorrel. (See Oxatis.) Mhuire of Mary ; Afdiri, Mary.
This form is especially applied to the Blessed Virgin Mary In
the Mid-Highlands more frequently called Saman (Stewart). Lus
Cholum-chille, the wort of St. Columba, the apostle of Scotland.
Columb, a dove ; cille, of the church. This name is given in the
Highlands to Hypericum, which see. osor (O'Reilly). Ros is
sometimes used for Zus. Ros-or, yellow or golden rose. ‘From
the Sanskrit, ruhsha or rusha, meaning tree, becomes in Gaelic
ros, a tree or treelet, just as daksha, the right hand, becomes dexter
in Latin and deas in Gaelic. os, therefore, means a tree or small
tree, or a place where such trees grow—hence the names of places
that are marshy or enclosed by rivers, as Roslin, Ross-shire, Ros-
common,” &c.—Canon Bourke.

Anagallis arvensis— Pimpernel, poor man’s weather - glass.
Gaelic: falcair. Irish: fakatre fiodhain, the wood cleanser (fal-

cadh, to cleanse). The name expressing the medicinal qualities
F

82

of the plant, which, by its purgative and cleansing power, removes
obstructions of the liver, kidneys, &c. Falcatre fuar—falcaire
also means a reaper, and /uar, cold; fuaradh, to cool, a weather-
gauge The reaper’s weather-gauge, because it points out the
decrease of temperature by its hygrometrical properties—when:
there is moisture the flower does not open. ZLotsgean (Macdonald),
from /oisg, to put in flame, on account of its fiery appearance.
Ruinn ruise (O'Reilly). uinn means sex, and by pre-eminence:
the “male ;” vuzse is the genitive case of vos. It is still called the
male pimpernel in some places. The distilled water or juice of
this plant was much esteemed formerly for cleansing the skin.

PLUMBAGINACE&,

Armeria maritima—Thrift. Gaelic: tonn a’ chladaich (Arm-
strong), the ‘‘ beach-wave,” frequent on the sea-shore, banks of
rivers, and even on the Grampian tops. arr-dearg, red-top, from
its pink flower. MWedinean cladaich, the beach daisy, from cladach,
shore, beach, sandy plain.

PLANTAGINACLA.

Plantago major—Greater plaintain. Gaelic and Irish: cuach
Phadraig, Patrick’s bowl or cup—in some places cruach Phadraig,
Patrick’s heap or hill. Welsh : Zydain y ford, spread on the way.
Manx: duillag ny cabbag Pharic, Patrick’s docken leaf.

P. lanceolata—Rib-wort. Gaelic and Irish: s/an Zus, the heal-
ing plant.
“Le meilbheig, le nedinean ’s le slan-Zus.””—MACLEOD.

With poppy, daisy, and 77b-wort.
Lus an t-slanuchaidh (lus, a wort, a plant-herb, chiefly used for
plant; it signifies also power, force, efficacy; sdénuchaidh, a pay-
ticipial noun from s/an ; Latin, sanus), the herb of the healing,
or healing power; a famous healing plant in olden times.
Manx: s/aan lus. Deideag. Irish: deideog (ag and dg, young,
diminutive terminations; de/d, literally dewd or deid, a tooth),
applied to the row of teeth, and also to the nipple (Gaelic: diddi;
English : ##¢y), because like a tooth, hence to a plaything,—play,
gewgaw, bo-peep, a common word with nurses,

‘*B’ iad sid an geiltre glé ghrinn,

Cinn déideagan measg febir,” etc.—MACDONALD.

Scenes of startling beauty,
Plaintain-heads among the grass, etc.

83

Armstrong translates it “gewgaws” amongst the grass; but the
editor of ‘‘Sar-obair nam Bard Gaelach ”—see his vocabulary—
gives déideagan, rib-grass, which renders the line intelligible.
Bodaith dhubha, the black men; /us nan saighdearan, the
soldiers’ weed,—children’s names in Perthshire and Argyllshire.
This plant and the sea-variety.

P. maritima, are relished by cattle, especially sheep, hence the
Welsh name: Bar can y ddafad, the sheep’s favorite morsel ; also,
Sampier y ddafad, the sheep’s samphire, names applied to the sea-
plaintain. The Manx name for the Buckshorn plaintain is Bo/lan
Vreeshey, Bridget’s wort (Bollan and dossan, wort). ‘Mie son
lhiettal guin” (good for staunching wounds).

PaRONYCHIACEA.

Herniaria glabra—Rupture-wort; burst-wort. Gaelic and Irish:
lus an t-sicnich (Mackenzie), from sic, the inner skin that is next
the viscera in animals. ‘Bhvist an t-sic,” the inner skin broke.
“Mam-sic,” rupture, hernia. Not growing naturally in Scotland,
but was formerly cultivated by herbalists as a cure for hernia.
Mam, round hill, a breast. Latin: amma, hence an ulcerous
swelling. A lotion made from this plant was a cure for such
complaints as well as for hernia.

CHENOPODIACE&.

Amaranthus caudatus -—— Love-lies-bleeding. Gaelic: dus a’
ghraidh, the love plant. Gradh, love.

Spinacia oleracea — Spinage. Gaelic: dloinigean géraidh.
Bionag, fat (Welsh: d/oneg; Irish: blanag); garadh, a garden.
Slap-chal (Macalpin); s/ap, to flap: ca/, cabbage. Welsh: y
vigawglys

Beta maritima—Beet, mangold-wurzel. Gaelic: detis, biotas.
Trish: dia¢as. Welsh: deatws (evidently on account of its feeding
or life-giving qualities). Greek: Bios. Latin: vita, life, food ;
and the Gaelic: dzadh, feed, nourish, fatten. Cornish: doer.

Sueda maritima—Sea-side goose grass. \ Gaelic and Irish:

Salicornia herbacea—Glass-wort. pratseach na mara,
the sea pot-herb. Name applied to both plants. For pradseach,
see Crambe maritima.

Atriplex hastata and patula—Common orache. Gaelic and

84

Irish: praiseach mhin, Min, meal, ground fine, small. The
plant is covered with fine mealy powder. Still used by poor
people as a pot-herb. Ceathramha-luain-griollog (O'Reilly), loin-
quarters, sallad. Ceathramadh caorach (Bourke), sheep’s quarters.
The name gviol/og is applied also to the samphire. Manx: col/
mea, fat or luxurious cole or cabbage (Cregeen).

A. portulacoides — Purslane-like orache. Gaelic and Irish:
purpaidh, purple. A name also given to the poppy. Name given
on account of the purple appearance of the plant, it being streaked
with red in the autumn.

A. littoralis—Marsh orache. LZivelehog (Threl). The Irish
Gaelic name seems to suggest its habitat. £7ve, our azr, on, and
Zeog, a marsh. Welsh: ZLlygwyn Arfor, the sea-side orache.
Some of the plants of this order are used as pot-herbs ; the roots
of others form valuable articles of food, as beet and mangold
wurzel—plants now famous as a new source of sugar instead of
the sugar cane.

Chenopodium vulvaria (or olidum)—Stinking goosefoot. Irish:
elefieog. El or ela, a swan; and /# or fleadh, a feast. It was
said to be the favourite food of swans. Scotch: o/our (Latin:
olor, a swan).

C. album—White goosefoot. Gaelic and Irish: pratseach
fhiadhain, wild pot-herb. The people of the Western Highlands,
and poor people in Ireland, still eat it as greens. Praiseach ghilas,
green pot-herb, a name given to the fig-leaved goosefoot (ficifolium).
Teanga mhin or mhin, the mealy or smooth tongue. Ca/ Lath-
ghias, the grey kale, in Argyllshire.

C. murale—Wall goosefoot. The wall kale. Praiseach was
also applied to cabbages. Latin: érassica, a cabbage. This par-
ticular “‘goosefoot” is found on walls and waste places near houses
—rare in Ireland, and doubtful in the Highlands. Irish:
Praiseach na balla.

C. Bonus-Henricus—Good King Henry, wild spinage, English
Mercury. Gaelic and Irish: pratseach brathair, the friar’s pot-
herb. (#rdthair means brother, also friar—/rere). Its leaves are
still used as spinage or spznach, in defect of better. Manx: g/assaz.

85

LAURACEA,

Laurus. Dr. Siegfried compares Zaurus with daurus oak. As
tingua from dingua, dacrima from dacrima.

L. nobilis—The laurel, the bay-tree (which must not be con-
founded with our common garden laurel, Prunus lauro-cerasus
and FP. lusitanicus). Gaelic and Irish: dabhras. Crann laoibh-
veil, the tree possessing richness of foliage. With its leaves, poets
and victorious generals were decorated. The symbol of triumph
and victory. It became also the symbol of massacre and
slaughter, hence another Gaelic name, casgair, to slaughter, to hit
right and left. Ur waine, the green bay-tree.

“* Agus e ’ga sgaoileadh féin a mach mar ar chraoibh uaine.”

And spreading himself like a green bay-tree.—PSALM xxxvii., 35.
The wr chraoibh uaine is supposed by Royle to be the rose-bay
(Nerium oleander), it being very common, and conspicuous by
its rosy flowers, near the streams—the true laurel being very
scarce in Palestine. ‘Ur, bay or palm tree, from the Sanskrit,
urh, to grow up. Palm Sunday is styled ‘Domhnach an tir, the
Lord’s day of the palm.”—Bourke.

Daphne laureola—Spurge laurel. Buaidh chraobh, na Labhras
(Logan), the tree of victory, or laurel tree.

Badge of Clan Maclaren. (Alac Labhruinn).

L. cinnamomum—Cinnamon. Gaelic and Irish: cazneal.

*?S e’s millse na ’n caineal.”-—BEINN-DORAIN.
It is sweeter than cinmamon.

Canal (Welsh: cane?).

‘*Rinn mi mo leabadh cubhraidh le mirr, aloe, agus canal,”—PROVERBS
vii., 17.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
From the Hebrew: ginnamon. Greek: kivdpwpov, Ainamomon.
Besides the true cinnamon plant, there is another species known
under the name of cassza.

*¢Malairt ann ad mhargaidhean, bha iarunn, casza agus calamus.”—EzEKIEL
Xxvii., 19.

There were exchanged in the fairs iron, cass¢a and calamus.

POLYGONACE.

Polygonum (from voAvs, many, and yovv, knee, many knees or
joints). Gaelic: /usan glitineach, kneed or jointed plants.

86

Polygonum bistorta — Bistort, snakeweed. Gaelic and Irish:
bilur (O'Reilly). Seems to mean the same as dzolair, a water-
cress, The young shoots were formerly eaten. Welsh: yséaw’r
netdy, adder’s plant. Manx: Bossan ardnieu, snakeweed.

P. amphibium — Amphibious persicaria. Gaelic and Irish:
gluineach an uisge, the water-kneed plant. It is often floating in
water. Gliineach dhearg, the red-kneed plant. Its spikes of
flowers are rose-coloured and handsome. Armstrong gives this
name to P. convolvulus, which is evidently wrong.

P. aviculare—Knot-grass. Gaelic and Irish: gilineach bheag
(O’Reilly), the small-jointed plant. There is another plant of this
family very common on the hills and greedily eaten by cattle,
much jointed, and with little red bulbs on the stem (P. viviparum).
Altanach occurs as the name of “a mountain or moss grass.”
(This is not a grass, yet ‘‘grass” is sometimes applied to plants
that are not grass, z.e.—knot grass, grass of Parnassus, etc.) The
probabilities are strongly in favour of this being the plant so
named. A/fanach, the jointed one (a/¢, a joint).

P. convolvulus—Climbing persicaria; black bindweed; climbing
buckwheat. Gaelic and Irish: giiineach dhubh, the dark-jointed
plant.

P. persicaria— The spotted persicaria. Gaelic and Irish:
gltineach mhor, the large-jointed plant. Am boinne-fola (Fer-
gusson), the blood spot. Lws chrann-ceusaidh (Maclellan), herb of
the tree (of) crucifixion. The legend being that this plant grew at
the foot of the Cross, and drops of blood fell on the leaves, and
so they are to this day spotted.

P. hydropiper — Water - pepper. Gaelic: dus an fhogair
(Mackenzie), the plant that drives, expels, or banishes. It had the
reputation of driving away pain, flies, etc. “If a good handful of
the hot biting arssmart be put under the horse’s saddle, it will
make him travel the better though he were half-tired before.”—
CULPEPPER. Gliineach teth, the hot-kneed plant. Manw: g/oon-
agh, the kneed or jointed one.

Rumex obtusifolius

» crispus | Doct Gaelic and Irish: copag—
» conglomeratus
copagach, copach, bossy. Welsh: copa, tuft, a top. Manx: capag.
Roots used for making black dye.

87

R. sanguineus — Bloody-veined dock. Gaelic: a’ chopagach
dhearg, the red dock. The stem and veins of leaves are blood-
red. Welsh: Zafolen gich (coch, red). Manx: capag jiarg, red
-dock.

R. alpinus — Monk’s rhubarb. Gaelic: dus na purgaid, the
purgative weed. A naturalised plant. The roots were formerly
used medicinally, and the leaves as a pot-herb. Welsh: avianallys.
‘The same name is given for rue.

R acetosa—Common sorrel. Gaelic: sam, sorrel. Irish:
samhadh bo, cow-sorrel (for samhsee Oxalis). Puinneag(Macdonald).
Irish : puineoga. Name given possibly for its efficacy in healing
sores and bruises (a pugilist, puznneanach). Sealbhag, not from
sealbh, possession, more likely from searbh, sour, bitter, from its
acid taste.

“ Do shealbhag ghlan 's do luachair
A borcadh suas ma d’ choir.” MACDONALD.

Thy pure sorreZ and thy rushes

Springing up beside thee.
Sealgag (Irish: sealgan), are other forms of the same name.
Copag shraide, the roadside or lane dock. Sod (Shaw), the herb
sorrel. Manx: shughlagh.

R. acetosella—Sheep’s sorrel. Gaelic and Irish: rvanaidh, the
reddish-coloured. It is often bright red in autumn. Pidirin
seangan (O'Reilly), the small-flowered plant (p/uran, a small
flower; seangan, slender). Samhadh caora (O'Reilly), sheep’s
sorrel. Sams, that part of the plant which bears seed.

Oxyria reniformis— Mountain sorrel. Gaelic and Irish: sealbh-
ag nam fiadh, the deer’s sorrel.

ARISTOLOCHIACEA,
Aristolochia clematitis—Birth-wort. Cwlurin (see Cyclamen.)
Asarum europe2um—Commonasarum. Gaelic: asaiy (Macdon-
ald), from the generic name, “asara bacca.” The leaves are
emetic, cathartic, and diuretic. The plant was formerly employed
to correct the effects of excessive drinking, hence the French,
cabaret.

EMPETRACES.

Empetrum nigrum—Crow-berry. Gaelic and Irish: /us na
fionnaig (fionnag, a crow). Sometimes written /feannag, (dearc

88

Shithich, raven’s berry ; caor fonnazg, crow-berry), the berries which
the Highland children are very fond of eating, though rather
bitter, Taken in large quantities, they cause headache. Grouse
are fond of them. Boiled with alum they are used to produce a
dark-purple dye. us na stalog (O'Reilly), the starling’s plant.
Brallan du. Threlkeld probably means dveal/an dubh, the black
knobby plant, on account of its black berries.

Badge of the Macleans; by some authorities, also of the
Camerons.

EUPHORBIACEA.
Euphorbia exigua
i helioscopia
=spurge. Foinne-lus, wart-wort. Manx: /us-ny-fahnnashyn,
same meaning.

E. Hiberna—Meacan buidhe an t-sltibhe. Meaning—the yellow
plant of the hill. The Journal of Botany, 1873, gives the name
as “‘Makkin bweé.” ‘A name of some interest as being one of
the few Gaelic names that has found its way (spelt as ‘Makinboy’)
into English books.” Our common plants are distinguished by
the milky juice they exude when bruised, growing frequently on
cultivated fields. The peasantry of Kerry use this plant for
stupefying fish. So powerful are its qualities that a small basket,
filled with the bruised plant, suffices to poison the fish for several
miles down a river.

E. peplus— Petty spurge. Gaelic and Irish: /us J/eighets,
healing plant. The plants of this genus possess powerful cathartic
and emetic properties. £. helioscopia has a particularly acrid
juice, which is often applied for destroying warts, hence it is
called foinne-lus. Irish: gear neimh (gear or geur, severe, and
neimh, poison, the milky juice being poisonous).

E. paralias—Sea-spurge. Irish: duidhe na ningean, (O'Reilly),
the yellow plant of the waves (zzz, a wave), its habitat being
maritime sands, Not found in Scotland, but in Ireland, on the
coast as far north as Dublin.

Buxus sempervirens—Box. Gaelic and Irish: docsa, an altera-
tion of wi€os, the Greek name. Latin: ducus.

\ spurge. Gaelic and Irish: spuirse

“‘Suidhichidh mi anns an fhasach an giuthas, an gall ghiuthas, agus am
bocsa le cheile.”—ISAlauH.

I will set in the desert the fir-tree and the pine and the dox together.

89

Aighban, Jt was considered in olden times an emblem of glad-
ness, just as Craodh-bhroin Cypress was of sadness. The leaves
of the red whortleberry are very like the leaves of the box, and
the former was the Swazcheantas of many of the branches of Clan
Chattan. To avoid trouble, box was frequently substituted. The
name is probably from aighear—merry, airy, light-hearted. So
the Latin name, Sempervirens—as Horace uses the term—lively
always green, active, etc.

The badge of Clan Macpherson, Clan Mackintosh, and others.

Mercurialis perennis—Wood mercury. Gaelic: dus ghlinne-
bhracadail. Lus ghlinne, the cleansing wort; dracadh, suppuration,
corruption, etc. It was formerly much used for the cure of
wounds. Manx: creayn voddee (creayn, ague ; and voddee, dogs).

CUCURBITACEA.

Cucumis sativus —Cucumber. Gaelic and Irish: cudaran,
perhaps from cudear, a bag. Latin: cudus, the skin.

“Ts cuimhne leinne an t-iasg a dh’ith sinn san Ephit gu saor ; na cularain
agus na mealbhucain.”-—-NUMBERS xi. 5.

We remember the fish that we did eat in Egypt freely, and the cucumber
and the melons.

‘Sa thore nimhe ri sgath a chularain.””—MACDONALD.
His wild boar destroying his cucumbers.

Trish : cucumhar (O'Reilly), cucumber, said to be derived from
the Celtic word cue (Gaelic: cuach), a hollow thing. In some
species the rind becomes hard when dried, and is used as a cup
Latin: cucumts, a derivative from the Celtic. (See Loudon, and
Chamber’s Latin Dictionary.) Welsh: chwerw ddwfr, water-sour.

C. melo—Melon. Gaelic and Irish: meaZdhuc, from mel or mal
(Greek, pov, an apple), and 4wc, size, bulk. According to
Brockie, “mealbhucain (plural), round fruit covered with warts or
pimples.” AZz/eog, a small melon.

URTICACEA,
Urtica—A word formed from Latin: wo, to burn.
U. urens .
aa \ — Nettle (Anglo-Saxon, ed/, a needle). Gaelic
», dioica
and Irish: feanntag, neantig,| deanntag, tontag, tuntag, by popular
+ “ Neantdg, the common name for it in Ireland. In feminine nouns, the
first consonant (letter) after the article az (the) is softened in sound. ‘An

feanntag’—‘f’ when affected loses its sound, and ‘N’ is sounded instead :
‘N (f)eantdg.?”—CANON BOURKE.

go

etymology from feannta, flayed, pierced, pinched—/eanm, to flay,
on account of its blistering effects on the skin; amg, a sting ;
Zongna, nails). Latin: uagues. ‘Original sense—‘scratcher’ or
‘stinger.’ ”— (Skeat.)
‘* Sealbhaichidh an zonntagach iad.” —HosEA ix. 6.
The nettles shall possess them.
“Cinnidh feanntag’s a’ gharadh
°N uair thig faillinn’san ros.” Dr, MACLACHLAN, Rahoy.
Nettles grow in the garden
While the roses decay.

To this day it is boiled in the Highiands and in Ireland by the
country people in the spring-time. ‘Till tea became the fashion,
nettles were boiled in meal, and made capital food. Caol-fati—
caol, slender ; fa/, spite, malice. In the Hebridies often called
svadag (a spark), from the sensation (like that from a fiery spark)
consequent upon touching (Stuart). Zo¢feag, from /d¢, a wound ;
loisneach, from Joscadh, burning. Manx: undaagach. Welsh:
danadlen. “The nettle was employed in the Isle of Man for
restoring circulation by heating the skin.”—(Moore.) Camden
says “that the Romans cultivated nettles, when in Britain, in
order to rub their benumbed limbs with them, on account of the
intense cold they suffered when in Britain.”

Cannabis sativa—Hemp. Gaelic and Irish: catnead, the same
as cannabis, and said to be originally derived from Celtic, can,
white: but the plant has been known to the Arabs from time
immemorial under the name of guaneb. Corcach, hemp.

“« Buill de’ n chaol chorcaidh.”*-—MacDONALbD,
Tackling of hempen ropes.

Welsh : cynarch.

Parietaria officinalis—Wall pellitory. Gaelic and Irish: /us a’
bhallaidh, from balladh (Latin: valium; Irish: balla), a wall. A
weed which is frequently found on or beside old walls or rubbish
heaps, hence the generic name “parietaria,” from favzes, a wall.
Irish: mtonntas chaisil (caistol, any stone building), the wall-mint.
For mtonntas, see Mentha. Manx: yn ouw creggach, the rocky
weed. Used as a cure for heart disease.

Humulus lupulus—Hop. Gaelic and Irish: dus an /eanna—
“ionn-luibh, the ale or beer plant. Lionn, leann (Welsh: /hyn).
Manx: Zus y onney (the same meaning).

gi

Ulmus— Elm. Celtic: azn. The same in Anglo-Saxon,
Teutonic, Gothic, and nearly all the Celtic dialects. Hebrew:
elah ; translated oak, terebinth, and elm.

U. campestris—Gaelic and Irish: Zamhan, slamhan (Shaw),
liobhan. Manx: lhionon. Welsh: U/wyfen. According to Pictet,
in his work, “Les Origines Indo-Europeennes ou les Aryas
Primitifs,” p. 221, “To the Latin: ‘Ulmus’ the following bear an
affinity (respond)—Sax.: ed/m,; Scand.: almr; Old German: edm,;
Rus.: tlemu; Polish: z/ma,; Irish: ailm, udm, and by inver-
sion, ‘/eamh,’ or ‘leamhan.” He says the root is #/, meaning to
burn. The tree is called from the finality of it, ‘to be burned.”
The common idea of feamhan is that it is from /amh, taste-
less, insipid, from the taste of its inner bark; and “od means
‘smooth, slippery. And the tree in Gaelic poetry is associated with,
‘or symbolic of, slipperiness of character, indecision. Cicely
Macdonald, who lived in the reign of Charles II., describing her
chief, wrote as follows :—

*« Bu tu ’n t-iubhar as a’ choille,
Bu tu ’n darach daingean, laidir,
Bu tu ’n cuilionn, bu tu ’n droighionn,
Bu tu ’n t-abhall molach, blath-mhor,
Cha robh meur annad de ’n chritheann,
Cha robh do dhlighe ri fearna,

Cha robh do chairdeas ri leamhan,
Bu tu leannan nam ban aluinn.”
Thou wast the yew from the wood,
Thou wast the firm strong oak,
Thou wast the holly and the thorn,
Thou wast the rough, pleasant apple,
Thou had’st not a twig of the aspen,
Under no obligation to the alder,
And had’st no friendship with the elm,
Thou wast the beloved of the fair.
Ficus—-Nearly the same in most of the European languages.
Greek: ovyy. Latin: ficus. Celtic: jige.
F. carica—Common fig-tree. Gaelic and Irish: crann fige or
Sighis.
“Ach foghlumaibh cosamhlach o’n chrann fhige.”—MArT: xxiv, 32.
Learn a parable from the fig-tree.

Inde-Indeach (O'Reilly). Not the common fig-tree, but the /ndian
fig is Ficus Indica. But another plant was known by the old

g2

herbalists as “Ficus Jndicus,” the “‘fig of India,” evidently one of
the spurge family, and was much used in Western Europe. It is
to this plant the name applies. ‘A plaister made of it with oil
and wax is singular good against all aches and pains of the joints,
. . « scabbs of the head, baldness, and it will cause the beard to
grow, if the chin be anointed therewith.”—(Joseph Blagrave,
student in Physic and Astrology, 1674.)

Morus—Greek: pépos, moros. Latin: morus, a mulberry.
Loudon, in his “ Encyclopzedia of Plants,” says it is from the
Celtic mor, dark-coloured, the fruit being of a darkish red colour.
Old Ger. and Danish: mur-ber. Modr-beam.

M. nigra—Common mulberry. Gaelic and Irish: crann-maol-
dhearc, tree of the mild aspect ; or, if dearc here be a berry, the
mild-berry tree. A/ao/ (Latin: mod/is) has many significations.
Bald, applied to monks without hair, as AZao/ Cholum, St. Columba;
Maol losa, Maol Brighid, St. Bridget, etc. A promontory, cape,
or knoll, as AZaol Chinntire, Mull of Cantyre. Malvern, aod,
and dearna, a gap. To soften, by making it less bitter, as “dean
maol é,” make it mild. Hence mulberry, mild-berry (Canon
Bourke). That is right as far as ‘“‘mao/” is concerned, yet it
seems only an adaptation of “za/,” the prefix. In the Bible, this
tree is also called the sycamine tree, from the Greek: sycaminos
(Luke xvii. 6). Gaelic: stcamin.

AMENTIFERZ AND CUPULIFERA,

Catkin-bearers—Gaelic: caztean, the blossom of ossiers.
‘Nis treigidh coileach a ghucag
°S cattean brucach nan craobh.”—MACDONALD.
Now the cock will forsake the buds
And the spotted catkins of the trees.
Quercus—Akin to xepxadéos, hard, rough; and xdpxapos, oak,
.or anything made of it.

Q. robur—The oak. Gaelic and Irish: daiv, genitive darach,
sometimes written darag, dur, drit. Sanskrit: daru. Greek:
Sdpv, Spts, an oak. Manx: darragh. Welsh: derwen.

“ Samhach’ is mor a bha ’n triath,
Mar dharaig’s i liath air Lubar,
A chaill a dlu-dheug o shean
Le dealan glan nan spéur,
Tha *h-aomadh thar srith o shliabh,
A coinneach mar chiabh a fuaim.”—OssIAn.

93

Silent and great was the prince
Like an oak-tree hoary on Lubar,

Stripped of its thick and aged boughs
By the keen lightning of the sky,

It bends across the stream from the hill,
Its moss sounds in the wind like hair.

Om, omna, the oak (O’Reilly). ‘Cormac, King of Cashel, Ire-
land, A.D 903, says of omna that it equals /vamna, sounds, or
noises, because the winds resound when the branches of the oak
resist its passage. According to Varro, it is from os, mouth, and
men, mind, thinking—that is, telling out what one thinks is likely
to come. Cicero agrees with this, ‘Osmen voces hominum.’”—
Canon Bourke. Compare Latin: omen, a sign, a prognostica-
tion,—it being much used in the ceremonies of the Druids.
Omna, a lance, or a spear, these implements being made from
the wood of the oak. Greek: ddpv, a spear, because made of
wood or oak. £itheach, oak, from eithim, to eat, an old form of
ith, Latin: ed-ere, as “oak” is derived from ak (Old German) to
eat (the acorn). The “oak” was called Quercus esculus by the
Latins. atl, ratilaidh, oak.
** Ni bhiodh achd, aon dhearc ar an valaidh.”
What they had, one acorn on the oak.
Canon Bourke thinks it is derived from vo, exceeding, and azi,
growth ; or 72, a king, and a/ or az/—that is, king of the growing
plants. It was under an oak that St. Bridget established her
retreat for holy women. ‘The place was therefore called Kildara,
or Cell of the Oak.
“©The Oak of St. Bride, which demon nor Dane,
Nor Saxon nor Dutchman could rend from her fane.”

The Highlanders still call it Aigh na corte, king of the wood. The
Spanish name vod/e seems to be cognate with robur. Furran, oak
(O'Reilly).

The oak—the badge of the Cameron men,

Q. ilex—Holm-tree. Gaelic and Irish: craodh thuilm, genitive
of ¢olm, a knoll, may here be only an alteration of “holm.”
Darach stor-uaine, ever-green oak.

Q. suber— The cork-tree. Gaelic: cvann arcan. Irish:
crann dirc. Arc, a cork.

Fagus sylvatica—Beech. Gaelic and Irish: craobh fhaidbhile,

94

Welsh: fawydd. Fat, faidh, from dy, to eat. dnyos, the
beech-tree. This name was first applied to the oak, and as we
have no Quercus esculus, the name Fagus is applied to the beech
and not to the oak. Ovuin (O'Reilly) (see Zhuja articulata).
Beith na measa, the fruiting birch. dZeas, a fruit, as of oak or
beech—like “mess,” “munch.” French: manger, to eat.

F. sylvatica var. atrorubens—Black beech. Gaelic: faidhbhile
dubh (Fergusson), black beech, from the sombre appearance of
its branches. The “mast” of the beech was used as food, and
was called dachar, from Latin: bacchar; Greek: Béxxapis, a
plant having a fragrant root. A name also given to Valeriana
celtica (Sprengel), Celtic nard.

Carpinus—The Latin name.

©. betulus—Hornbeam. Gaelic: eamhan bog (O’Reilly), the
soft elm. (See U/mus campestris).

Corylus avellana—Hazel. Gaelic and Irish: calltuinn, call-
dainn, callduinn, cailtin, colluinn. Welsh: callen. Cornish: coé.
widen. Manx: col, Gaelic: cot//. Irish: coz//, a wood, a grove.
New Year’s time is called in Gaelic, cot; “otdhche coille,” the
first night of January, then the hazel is in bloom. The first night
in the new year when the wind blows from the west, they call dazr
na coille, the night of the fecundation of trees (‘Statistics,” par.
Kirkmichael). In Celtic superstition the hazel was considered
unlucky, and associated with loss or damage The words ca/,
coll, collen, have also this signification ; but if two nuts were found
together (cnd chdmhlaich), good luck was certain. The Bards,
however, did not coincide with these ideas. By it they were
inspired with poetic fancies. ‘‘They believed that there were
fountains in which the principal rivers had their sources; over
each fountain grew nine hazel trees, caill crinmon (crina, wise),
which produced beautiful red nuts, which fell into the fountain,
and floated on its surface, that the salmon of the river came up
and swallowed the nuts. It was believed that the eating of the
nuts caused the red spots on the salmon’s belly, and whoever took
and ate one of these salmon was inspired with the sublimest
poetical ideas. Hence the expressions, ‘the nuts of science,’ ‘the
salmon of knowledge.’”—O’Curry’s “ Manners and Customs of
the Ancient Irish.”

The badge of Clan Colquhoun.

95

Alnus—/ (Sanskrit), to burn. According to Pictet, it is from
alka, Sanskrit for a free.

A. glutinosa— Common alder. Gaelic and Irish: /earna—
JSearna, French: verne. Welsh: gwernen (gwern, a swamp). It
grows best in swampy places, and beside streams and rivers.
Many places have derived their names from this tree, Gleann
Fearnaite. Fearnan, near Loch Tay; earn, Ross-shire, etc.
Ruaim (O'Reilly) (xuadh, red), it dyes red. When peeled it is
white, but it turns red in a short time. The bark boiled with
‘copperas makes a beautiful black colour. The wood has the
peculiarity of splitting best from the root, hence the saying :—

“*Gach fiodh o’n bharr, ’s am fearna o'n bhun.”
Every wood splits best from the top, but the alder from the root.
A singular custom prevailed at funerals. ‘There were rods or
small branches of fearn stuck round the graves of the unmarried,
and of the married who had no issue; with the distinction that
the bark was taken off for the unmarried.”

Betula alba—Birch. Gaelic and Irish: detth. Welsh: bedw,
seemingly from Latin Betuda. Also the name of the letter B in
Celtic languages, corresponding to Hebrew Seth (meaning a
house). Greek: Beta. Generally written dezzh.

6S a’ bheith chibhraidh.”’—OssIan.
In the fragrant dirch.
The Highlanders and Irish formerly made many economical uses.
of this tree, Its bark (méz/eag or dé/eag), they burned for light,
smooth inner bark was used, before the invention of paper, for
writing upon, and the wood for various purposes.

The badge of the Clan Buchanan.

R. verrucosa—Knotty birch. Gaelic: decth carraigeach, the
rugged birch; deith dubh-chasach, the dark-stemmed birch.

B. pendula—Gaelic: decth dubhach, the sorrowful birch (dudhach,
dark, gloomy, sorrowful, mourning, frowning), In Rannoch and
Breadalbane: Beith cluasach, the many (drooping) ear birch.
(Stuart).

B. nana—Dwarf birch. Gaelic: deith deag (Fergusson), the
small birch. :

Castanea vesca—Common chestnut. Gaelic and Irish: chraobh
geanm-chno.

96

‘No na craobha geanm-chnd cosmhuil r' a gheugaibh.”—EzeKIEL xxxi. 8.
Nor the chestnut-tree like his branches.

Geanm or gean, natural love, pure love, such as exists between
relatives—the tree of chaste love, and cd, a nut. The Celts
evidently credited this tree with the same virtues as the chaste
tree, Vitex agnus castus (Greek, dyvos: and Latin, castus, chaste).
Hence the Athenian matrons, in the sacred rites of Ceres, used
to strew their couches with its leaves. Castanea is said to be
derived from Castana, a town in Pontus, and that the tree is so
called because of its abundance there. But the town Castana
(Greek, Kdoravov), was probably so called on account of the
virtues of its female population. If so, the English name chest-
nut would mean chaste-nut, as it is in the Gaelic. Welsh: castan
(from Latin, casée), chastely, modestly. The chestnut tree of
Scripture is now supposed to be Platanus orientalis, the Chenar
plane-tree.

[Zsculus hippocastanum—The horse-chestnut. Gaelic: geanm
chnd fhiadhaich (Fergusson). Belongs to the order Aceracee.
Was introduced to Scotland in 1709.]

Populus alba—Poplar. Gaelic: craobh phobuill. Irish: poibleag.
German: pappel, Welsh and Armoric: podl. Latin: populus.
This name has an Asiatic origin, and became a common name
to all Europe through the Aryan race from the East.+ Pictet
explains it thus—“Ce nom est sans doute une reduplication de
la racine Sanscrit pw/, magnum, altum.” Pu/ pul, great, great, or
big, big, as in the Hebrew construction, very big. We still say
in Gaelic mor, mor, big, big, for very big. Pu2 pul is the Persian
for popular, and puélah for salix. This tree is quite common in
Persia and Asia Minor, hence it was as well known there as in
Europe. The name has become associated with sopulus, the
people, by the fact that the streets of ancient Rome were deco-
rated with rows of this tree, whence the name Arbor populi.
Again, it is asserted that the name is derived from the constant
movement of the leaves, which are in perpetual motion, like the
populace— fickle, like the multitude, that are accursed.” Populus
—palpulus, from palpitare, to tremble (Skeat).

1 See Canon Bourke’s work on “The Aryan Origin of the Gaelic Race and
Language.” London: Longman.

97

P. tremula—aAspen. Gaelic and Irish: critheann, from crith,
tremble. Manx: cron craaee, trembling tree.

“« Mar chritheach ’san t-sine.”— ULL.
Like an asfen in the blast.

With the slightest breeze the leaves tremble, the poetic belief
being that the wood of the Cross was made from this tree, and
that ever since the leaves cannot cease from trembling. abhadh.
Welsh: aethnen (aethiad, smarting). Manx: chengey ny mraane,
wives’ tongues (never still!) The mulberry tree of Scripture is
‘supposed to be the aspen (Balfour), and in Gaelic is rendered
craobh nan smeur. (See Morus and Rubus fruticosus.)

“Agus an uair a chluinneas tu fuaim siubhail ann am mullach chraobh nan
sméur, an sin gluaisidh tu thu féin.”—2 SAMUEL v. 24.

And when thou hearest a sound of marching on the tops of the mulberry
trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself.

The badge of Clan Ferguson, according to some authorities.

Salix—According to Pictet, from Sanskrit, sda, a tree.

«Tl a passe au sawde dans plusieurs langues
Ces noms derivent de sala.”
‘Gaelic and Irish: sez/each, saileog, sal, suil. Cognate with Latin:
salix. Manx: shellagh. Fin.: salawa. Anglo-Saxon: salg,
salh, from which sad/ow (white willow) is derived. Welsh: heZyg,
willow. (See S. viminalis.)

8. viminalis—Osier willow; cooper’s willow. Gaelic and
Irish: fineamhain, a long twig—a name also applied to the vine.!
Vimen in Latin means also a pliant twig, a switch osier. One of
the seven hills of Rome (Viminalis Collis) was so named from a
willow copse that stood there; and Jupiter, who was worshipped
among these willows, was called “ Viminius;” and his priests, and
those of Mars, were called Safi for the same reason. The wor-
ship was frequently of a sensual character, and thus the willow has
become associated with lust, filthiness. Priapus was sarcastically
called ‘“‘Salacissimus Jupiter,” hence sa/ax, lustful, salacious: and
in Gaelic, sadach (from saZ); German, sad, polluted, defiled. The
osier is also called dunnsag, buinneag, a twig, a stock. <Maothan,
from maoth, smooth, tender. Gall sheileach, the foreign willow.

S. caprea, and 8. aquatica—Common sallow. Gaelic and

1«* Finemhain fa m’ chomhair” (in Genesis)—a vine opposite to me.
G

~

98

Irish: sézleag, probably the same as Irish, saz/eog (Anglo-Saxon,
salig, sallow). Sié?—the old Irish name—(in Turkish sz means
water), in Irish and Gaelic, the eye, look, aspect, and sometimes
tackle (Armstrong). The various species of willow were exten-
sively used for tackle of every sort. Ropes, bridles, &c., were
made from twisted willows. ‘In the Hebrides, where there is
so great a scarcity of the tree kind, there is not a twig, even of
the meanest willow, but what is turned by the inhabitants to-
some useful purpose.”-—WaLKER’s “ Hebrides.” And in Ireland
to this day “gads,” or willow ropes, are made. Geal-sheileach
(Armstrong), the white willow or sallow tree. Irish: crann satligh
Fhrancaigh, the French willow. Dye of flesh colour from the bark.

5. babylonica—The Babylonian willow. Gaelic: sedleach an
t-srutha (sruth, a brook, stream, or rivulet), the willow of the brook.

‘* Agus gabhaidh sibh dhuibh féin air a’ cheud la meas chraobh aluinn, agus.
setleach an t-srutha.” —LEV. xxiii. 40.

And take unto yourselves on the first day fruit of lovely trees, and w7l/ows
of the brook.

MyRICACE&.

Myrica gale—Bog myrtle, sweet myrtle, sweet gale. Gaelic:
rideag. Irish: rideog, rileog (changing sound of @ to / being
easier. oid is the common name in the Highlands, perhaps from
the Hebrew vothem, a fragrant shrub. Kelly (in his Manx
Dictionary) speaks of a plant ‘‘/ws roddagagh,” which, he says,
“was used for dyeing and for destroying fleas.” It was used for
making a yellow dye. It is doubtless this plant. It is used for
numerous purposes by the Highlanders, e.g., as a substitute for
hops ; for tanning ; and from its supposed efficacy in destroying
insects, beds were strewed with it, and even made of the twigs of
gale. And to this day it is employed by the Irish for the same
purpose by those who know its efficacy. The rideog is boiled, and
the tea or juice drank by children to kill ‘the worms.’ Raideog in
Donegal (O’Donovan). Samename. ‘The hills in Raasay abound
with the sweet-smelling plant, which the Highlanders call gaud.”—
Boswell’s Tour with Dr. Johnson.

Badge of the Clan Campbell.

CONIFERA,
Pinus—French: / pin. German: pyn-baum, Italian: 72 pino.

yg

Spanish: e2 pino. Irish: pinn chrann. Gaelic: pin-chrann.
Anglo-Saxon: pinu, All these forms of the same name are
derived, according to Pictet, from the Sanscrit verb pia, the
past participle of féfa, to be fat, juicy. From gia, comes Latin,
pinus, and the Gaelic, gim. Old Gaelic: peith, put for pic-nus—
L. pic, stem of pix pitch, hence pine means pitch tree (Skeat),

P. sylvestris—Scotch pine, Scots fir. Gaelic: géuthas. Irish:

giumhas,
‘* Mar giuthas.a |b an doinionn.””—OssIan.

Like a Aine bent by the storm.

Giuthas. Old Irish: géus. Manx: juys. Gaelic: giuthas, said

to be from root gis, from the abundance of pitch or resin. Coz

or cona (O'Reilly), from Greek: xwvos, onos, a cone, a pine.

Hence connadh, and Anglo Scotch: céx, fir wood, fire-wood.
Badge of the Macgregors—Clan Alpin.

P. picea—Silver pine. Gaelic: giuthas geal (Fergusson), white
pine. First planted at Inveraray Castle in 1682.

Abies communis—Spruce. Gaelic: géuthas Lochlatnneach,
Scandinavian pine.
‘‘Nuair theirgeadh giuthas Lochlainneach.”—MacCoprum.
When the spruce fir would get done.
Lochlannach, from loch, lake, and /ann, a Germano-Celtic word
meaning land—ze., the lake-lander, a Scandinavian.
‘“ Giuthas glan na Lochlainn,
Fuaight’ le copar ruadh.”
Polished iv of Scandinavia,
Bound with reddish copper.
P. larix—Larch. Gaelic and Irish: arag. Scotch: larick.
Latin: /arix, from the Greek: Adpug, a larch, or Aapuvéds, fat, from
the abundance of resin the wood contains. Welsh: darswydden.

P. strobus—/(S¢robus, a name employed by Pliny for an eastern
tree used in perfumery). Weymouth pine. Gaelic: giuthas
Sasunnach (Fergusson), the English pine. It is not English,
however ; it is a North American tree, but was introduced from
England to Dunkeld in 1725.

Cupressus—Cypress. Irish and Gaelic: cuphair, an alteration
of Cyprus, where the tree is abundant.

Io0o

C. sempervirens—Common cypress. Gaelic: craobh bhroin,
the tree of sorrow. ron, grief, sorrow, weeping. Craobh uaine
giuthais, the green fir-tree.

“Ts cosmhuil mi ri crann uaine giuthais.”—HOSEA xiv. 8.
Tam like a green fir-tree.
The fir-tree of Scripture (Hebrew derosh and deroth are translated
fir-trees) most commentators agree is the cypress.
Badge of the Macdougalls.
Thuja articulata—Thyine wood. Gaelic: frodh-thine.
“Agus gach uile ghné fhiodha thine.” —REV. xviii. 12.
And all kinds of ¢hyine wood.
Alteration of ¢hya, from @ve, to sacrifice. Another kind of pine,
Hebrew, oven (Irish and Gaelic, ord), is translated ash in Isaiah
xliv. 14, and beech by O’Reilly.

Cedar—Keédpos. Cedrus Libanit, cedar of Lebanon. Gaelic

and Irish: crann seudar, cedar tree.

“Agus air uile sheudaraibh Lebanoin.”—ISAIAH ii. 13.
And upon all the cedars of Lebanon.
The cedar wood mentioned in Lev. xiv. 4, was probably /umiperus
oxycedrus, which was a very fragrant wood, and furnished an oil
that protects from decay—cedar oil, hence figuratively, “Carmina
linenda cedro ”—7.e., poems worthy of immortality.
“Agus fiodh sheudar, agus scarlaid, agus hisop.”
And cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.

Juniperus—From the Latin /uniperus—junior, younger, and
pario, to bring forth, because it drings forth younger berries while
the others are ripening. Irish: zabhar-beinne (O'Reilly), the hill
yew; 2ubhar-thalaimh, the ground yew; ubhar-chraige, the rock yew;
all given as names for the juniper. _/wmzperus is mentioned both
by Virgil and Pliny. Welsh: merywen.

J. communis—Juniper. Gaelic and Irish: azteal, aitinn, aitiol.
Aitionn, from Sanscrit ak, to pierce. Latin: acer, sharp, piercing.

“ Ach chaidh e féin astar latha do’n fhasach agus thainig e agus shuidh e
fuidh chraoibh-aiteil.”—1 KINGs xix. 4.

And he went a day’s journey into the desert, and he sat under a juniper tree.
The juniper of Scripture, Genzsta monosperma, was a kind of
broom. Welsh; ae¢h, a point, furze. Irish: asfeann, furze, from
its pointed leaves. ior /eacain (in Arran), the pointed hill-side

Io!

plant. Sfaoin (in the North Highlands), caorrunn staoim, juniper
berries (staozn, a little drinking-cup).

The badge of Clans Murray, Ross, Macleod, and the Athole
Highlanders,

J. sabina—Savin. Gaelic: samhan (Armstrong), alteration of
“sabina,” the “sabina herba” of Pliny. Common in Southern
Europe, and frequently cultivated in gardens, and used medicin-
ally as a stimulant, and in ointments, lotions, &c.

Taxus—According to Benfry is derived from the Sanscrit,
taksh, to spread out, to cut a figure, to fashion. Persian: ak.
Greek: ré€os, an arrow. Irish and Gaelic: twagh, a bow made
of the ¢axos or yew, now applied to the hatchet used in place of
the old bow.

T. baccata—Common yew. Gaelic and Irish: cubhar, iughar.
Greek : ids, an arrow, or anything pointed. Arrows were poisoned
with its juice; hence in old Gaelic it was called zogh, a severe
pain, and zoghar (Greek, «xwp, zchor), pus, matter. “Perhaps of
Celtic origin” (Skeat). Welsh: yw. The yew was the wood from
which ancient bows and arrows were made, and that it might be
ready at hand, it was planted in every burial ground.

‘°’'N so fein, a Chuchullin, tha ’n tir,
’S caoin iuthar ’tha ’fas o’n uaigh.”’—OssIANn.

In this same spot Chuchullin, is their dust,
And fresh the yew tree grows upon their grave.

Another form of the name, eo, a grave. Sinsior, sinnsior (O'Reilly),
long standing, antiquity, ancestry. The yew is remarkable for its
long life. The famous yew of Fortingall in Perthshire, which once
had a circumference of 5634 feet, is supposed to be 3500 years
old. Sineadhfeadha (O’Reilly), protracting, extending wood.
Laing is not correct when, in attacking the genuineness of the
poems of Ossian, he asserts that the yew, so often mentioned in
these poems, is not indigenous. There are various places, such as
Gleniur, Duniur, &c., that have been so named from time
immemorial, which proves that the yew was abundant in these
places many centuries ago.

The badge of Clan Fraser.

102

ENDOGENS.!
PALM,
Phoenix dactylifera—The date palm. Gaelic and Irish: crann
palm. Daittog (O'Reilly).
“Mar chrann-pailme, thig am firean fo bhlath.”—Ps. xcii. 12.
The righteous shall flourish like the palm ¢ree.

The tree is so named from its flat spreading leaves like the palm
of the hand. Greek: waAdpy, the palm of the hand.

ORCHIDACE#.

Orchis—Greek: épxis, a plant with roots in the shape of
testicles. ‘“ Mirabilis est ovchs herba, sive serapias, gemina radice
testiculis simili.”—PLiny.

O maculata—The spotted orchis. Gaelic and Irish: zrach
bhallach ; trach, likely an alteration of orchis, and dadlach, spotted.

0. masculata—Early orchis. Gaelic: moth urach, from moth,
the male of any animal. Irish: magairlin meireach (magairle, the
testicles); medreach (Greek, metro), joyful, glad. Clachan gadhair
(gadhar, a hound, clach, a stone. Manx: dbwoid Saggart (penis
Sacerdotis). The name, cuigeal nan losgunn, the frogs’ distaff, is
applied to many of the orchis; and frequently the various names
are given to both maculata and mascula.

0. conopsea—Fragrant orchis. Gaelic: Zs taghta, the chosen
or select weed.

Ophrys—Greek : ofpis (Gaelic, abhra), the eyelash, to which
the delicate fringe of the inner sepals may be well compared. “A
plant with two leaves.” -FREUND.

0. or Listera ovata—Tway blade. Gaelic: da-dhuilleach, two-
leaved ; da-bhileach, same meaning.

1De Candolle divides plants into three classes—Exogens, Endogens, and
Cryptogamic plants or Acrogens. EEXOGENS have the veins of the leaves like
net work, and the growth gradually increases by the thickness of the stem, by
forming new wood over the old, beneath the bark. EENDOGENs have the veins
of the leaves parallel, as in grasses, palms, &c. The stem grows little in
thickness, and by forming new woody bundles in its interior. CRYPTOGAMIC
plants, or ACROGENS, have no flowers. The leaves are fork veined, and some-
times none. Ferns, lickens, &c., are examples.

103

Epipactis latifolia —White helleborine. Gaelic: éebor-geal.t
A plant used formerly for making snuff. “The root of hellebor
cut in small pieces, the pounder drawne vp into the nose causeth
sneezing, and purgeth the brain from grosse and slimie humors.”
—GERARD, 1597. This is probably the plant referred to in
“Morag,” when Macdonald describes the buzzing in his head, for
even his nose he had to stop with Aed/ebore, since he parted from

her endearments.
‘Mo cheann tha lan do sheilleanaibh
O’n Gheilich mi ri d’bhriodal
Mo shron tha stoipt’ a dh'elebor,
Na deil, le teine dimbis.”

IRIDACEA.

Tris—Signifying, according to Plutarch, the “eye.” Canon
Bourke maintains ‘‘it is derived from épw, to settle. And as a
name it was by the Pagan priests applied to the imaginary
messenger, sent by gods and goddesses to others of their class, to
announce tidings of goodwill. At times they imagined her sent
to mortals, as in Homer, ¢o se¢t/e matters, or to say they were
destined to be settled. Such was the duty of Irs. Now, amongst
Jews and Christians, the rainbow was the harbinger of peace to
man, hence it was called ‘Iris;’ and the circle of blue, grey, or
variegated tints around the pupil of the eye is not unlike the
rainbow—therefore this circlet was so called by optic scientists,
simply because they had no other word; and botanists have, by
comparison, applied it to the /lewr-de-lis, because it is varied in
hue, like the iris of the eye, or the rainbow. 77s does not and
did not convey the idea of eye.”

I, pseud-acorus—The yellow flag. Gaelic: dog-uisge—bdog, soft,
but here a corruption of dogha-uisge, the rainbow. Bir dbhogha
{O’Reilly), many of the species have beautiful colours, hence the
name. Gaelic and Irish: sec/isdear, often seileasdear and siolastar.
The termination fav, dear, or as¢ar, in these names, means one of
a kind, having a settled form or position. One finds this ending
common in names of plants—as oleaster, cotoneaster, &c., like
“rnp” in Greek, “fear” in Gaelic. SeiZ (the first syllable) from
sol, the sun; sodus, light; sof and Zeus, z.e., lux, light. Greek:

1 See Helleborus viridis.

104

HAuos (9 or ¢ long), hence sé, e and 7 to give a lengthened sound,

as in Greek. Sez/eastar, therefore, means the plant of light—
Fleur de luce. Other forms of the word occur, Sv%o/ instead of
seil, as stolstrach ; siol or stl, to distil, to drop—an alteration
probably suggested by the medicinal use made of the roots of
the plant, which were dried, and made into powder or snuff,
to produce salivation by its action on the mucous membrane.
Fetleastrom, feleastrom, feleastar. Here f is the affected or
digammated form. When eéeasfar (another form of the word)
lost the ‘s,’ then, for sound’s sake, it took the digammated form
(fjeleastar. Strom (the last syllable) is a diminutive termination.
Seilistear, diminutive form seiZistrin, and corrupted into sez/istrom.”
—Bourke. Welsh: ged/hesg. According to Ebel, sec/sdear is
from Latin salicastrum,

I. foetidissima—Stinking gladwin. Manx: cogagach, sword
grass or flag. Welsh: Zys’r hychgryg, quinsy wort.

Crocus—Greek: «péxos. Much employed among the ancients
for seasonings, essences, and for dyeing purposes.

C. sativus
Colchicum autumnale
Gaelic and Irish: ¢7d, erodh, crich—crodh chorcar'
“Se labhair Fionn nan chro-shnuadh.””—CoNN Mac DEaRG.
Thus spake Fingal the saffron-hued.
‘“Spiocnard agus crdch.”—DAN SHOLAIMH.
Spikenard and saffron.
Saffron was much cultivated anciently for various purposes, but
above all for dyeing. ‘The first habit worn by persons of
distinction in the Hebrides was the /ezw croich, or saffron shirt, so
called from its being dyed with saffron.”.—-WaLKER. The Romans
had their crocdfa, and the Greeks 6 xpoxwrés, a saffron coloured
court-dress. Welsh: saffrwm, saffron, from the Arabic name,
z'afardn, which indicates that the name of the plant is of Asiatic
origin.

\ Saffron crocus, meadow saffron.

1

AMARYLLIDACE.

Narcissus pseudo-narcissus

: fang j Patiodil, Gaelic: lus a chrom-

2 For corcur, see Lecanora tartarea.

105

chinn, the plant having a bent or drooping head. The name
suggests the beautiful lines of Herrick—

‘* When a daffodil I see
Hanging its head towards me,
Guesse I may what I must be:
First, I shall decline my head ;
Secondly, I shall be dead ;
Lastly, safely buried.”

Galanthus nivalis—Snowdrop. Gaelic and Irish: gealag lair—
gealag, white as milk; /av, the ground. Galanthus. Greek: ydAa,
milk; and avos, a flower.

Aloe—Hebrew: ahaloth. Gaelic and Irish: aloe.

‘* Leis na h-uile chraobhaibh tuise, mirr agus aloe.”

With all trees of frankincense; myrrh, and aloes.—SoNG oF SOLOMON,
iv. 14.

The aloe of Scripture! must not be confounded with the bitter
herb well known in medicine.

LILIACEz.
Lilium—Greek: Aeépuov From the Celtic: 4, colour, hue.
Welsh : “iu. Gaelic: 2.
‘¢ A mhaise-mhna is aillidh 77 /”—FINGALIAN POEMS.
Thou fair-faced beauty,
“Lily seems to signify a flower in general.”—WEDGEWOOD.
Gaelic and Irish: “dh or lt.

L. candidum—Meacan a tathabha (O’Don), “ bulb of the white
lily.” It has been grown in gardens from time immemorial for
its beauty, and for the extraction of the “oil of lillies” which was
highly esteemed formerly.

Paris quadrifolia —Herb paris. Aon dearc. One berry. Welsh:
cwlwm cariad, lover's knot, or tie.

Convallaria majalis—Lily of the valley. Gaelic: Zi nan lon.
Lili nan gleann.

‘* Air ghilead, mar //z nan lointean.”” MACDONALD.
White as the Zily of the valley.

“Ts ros Sharon mise, /2/i nan gleann.’’—STUART.
I am the rose of Sharon, che lily o7 the glen.

1 Aquilaria agallochum.

106

“The lily of Scripture was probably Lilium chalcedonicum.”—
BALFOur.

Polygonatum multiflorum—Solomon’s seal or heal. Manx:
lus lthethys, the heal plant. The young shoots were eaten as a
substitute for asparagus (LINDLEY).

Allium—The derivation of this word is said to be from a#/
(Celtic), hot, burning. There is no such word. The only word
that resembles it in sound, and with that significance, is sgad/fa,
burned, scalded; hence, perhaps, “scallion,” the English for a
young onion. Latin: calor.

A. cepa (cep, Gaelic: ceaf, a head)—The onion. Gaelic:
uinnean. Irish: oinninn. Manx: unnish. Welsh: wynwyn.
French : o¢gnon. German: émjén. Latin: unio. Gaelic: stobaid,
Siobann. Sibal, leek (O'Reilly). Welsh: szdoZ. Scotch: syda.
German: szeiebe/, scallions or young onions. Cutharlan, a bul-
bous plant In Lorne, and elsewhere along the West Highlands,
frequently called svdnamh (probably from Svdn and amh, raw in
the nose, or pungent in the xose).

A. porrum.—Garden leek. Gaelic and Irish: J/eigzs, /esceas,
Zeicis. German: /auch, leek.

“* Agus na deicis agus na h-uinneinean.”—NUMBERS Xi. 5.
And the Zeeks and the onions,

Welsh: ceninen. The Welsh wear this vegetable as a trophy in
memory of a victory won by the Welsh over the English, on which
occasion they, by order of St. David, placed leeks in their caps to
distinguish them from the Saxons Farmers still wear it when
assisting each other, and they bring each a leek to furnish a
common repast for the company. Irish: coindid, coinne, cainnen.

**Do roidh, no do coindid, no do ablaibh,”’

Thy gale, nor thy ovzons, nor thy apples.

Coindid, though applied to leeks, onions, &c., means seasoning,
condiments. Latin: condo.

A. ursinum—Wild (also garden) garlic. From the Celtic.
Gaelic and Irish: garleag. Gdirgean or goirgin gdiridh. Welsh:
garileg, from gar, gairce, bitter, most bitter. Garrgean, according
to Skeat, g@v, a spear, spear leek. Creamh (Welsh, craf), to
gnaw, chew. Lurachan, the flower of garlic.

107

“Le d’ lurachain chreamhach fhasor
*S am buicein bhan orr shuas.” MACDONALD.

faran (O'Reilly). Latin: far, meal, grain. The earliest food of
the Romans. Irish: dar, food, corn, hence “barley.” The feast
of garlic, “Feisd chreamh,” was an important occasion for gather-
ings and social enjoyment to the ancient Celts.

‘*Ann’s bidh creamh agus sealgan, agus luibhe iomdha uile fhorreas re a

n-itheadh tirghlas feadh na bleadhna ma roibhe ar teitheadh 6 chainreath na
n-daoine, do ’n gleann da loch.”—IRIsH.

Where garlic and sorrel, and many other kinds, of which I ate fresh through-
‘out the year before I fled from the company of men to the glen of the Two

Lochs, 4
‘@Ts leigheas air gach tinn

Creamh ‘us im a’ Mhaigh.”

Garlic and May butter

Are remedies for every illness.
“Tts medicinal virtues were well known; but, like many other
plants once valued and used by our ancestors, it is now quite
‘superseded by pills and doses prepared by licensed practitioners.”
—Sheriff NicoLson.

A. scorodoprasum—Rocambole. Gaelic and Irish: creamh nan
rag (Mackenzie), the rock garlic.

A. ascalonicum—Shallot. Gaelic: sga/aid (Armstrong).

A. shoenoprasum—Chives. Gaelic: feuran. Irish: fearan, the
grass-like plant. Sazdse. Creamh garaidh, the garden garlic.
Welsh: cenin Pedr, Peter's leek. Forltchiabh (O'Reilly), Peter’s
leek. The well-known “chives,” or commonly known to High-
land housekeepers as sazdse, the round grassy leaves of which give
a grateful flavour to the broth. Fo7/#, alteration of faz/te, warmth,
welcome; and ciadh or ciobh, a lock of hair, as in ciabh-cheanndubh.,
(S. cespitosus). The tufty growth of both plants may have
suggested the name.

A vineale—Crow garlic. Gaelic: garlag Mhuive (Armstrong),
Mary’s garlic.
Narthecium ossifragum—Bog asphodel. Gaelic and Irish:
1 A most gloomy and romantic spot in the County of Wicklow.

‘*Glen da lough ! thy gloomy wave,
Soon was gentle Kathleen’s grave.” —Moore.

108

blioch, bliochan, from blioch, milk. Welsh: gwaew’r trenin, king’s

lance.
‘¢ Nuair thigeadh am buaichaill a mach,
’S gabhadh e mu chil a’ chruidh
Mu'n cuairt do Bhad-nan-clach-glas,
A’ bhuail’ air ’m bu tric am blioch.”—-MACLEOD.

When the cowherd comes forth,
And follows his cows

Around the Bhad-nan-clach-glas,
Where the asphodel was numerous.

Scilla non-scripta—Bluebell; wild hyacinth. Gaelic: /uatk
mhuc, pigs’ fear or aversion, the bulbs being very obnoxious to
swine. Srvg na cubhaig, cuckoo’s shoe. Irish: duth mute
Probably duh is the same as dugha (see prunus spinosa), fear, the
pigs’ fear. Maclauchlan called it 2% ghucagach. Manx: gleth
muck, blaa muck. The pigs’ bouquet, pigs’ bloom. Camraasagh,
“the herb jackins” (Cregeen).

“ Lili ghucagach nan cluigean.”
The bell-flowered Zily.

Lus na gingle gorah (Threl). Lus na gineil gorach, the silly
children’s plant. It was held in no esteem save for its pretty
flower. It was not liked by the ancients, because they believed
it grew from the blood of Hyakinthos, a youth killed by Apollo
with a quoit, when in one of his mad fits, hence the name hyacinth.

S. verna—Squill (and the Latin, sc//a, from the Arabic dsgy/).
Gaelic: /ear-uinnean, the sea-onion. ear, the sea, the surface of

the sea.
“ Clos na min-dear uaine.”—OssIAN.

The repose of the smooth green sea.

Welsh: cnwyn y mor, sea-onion.

Tulipa sylvestris—Tulip. Gaelic: ¢wiliop. The same name in

almost all European and even Asiatic countries. Persian:
thoilyban (De Souza).

Hemerocallese—Zaz/ (O’Reilly), not the common garden tulip,
but one of the “day lilies.” They differ from the tulip in nothing
except that the flower (the corolla) and the covering (calyx) are
joined together, forming a tube of conspicuous length, and some
of them have no bulbs, but tubers. The Irish Gaelic name is

109

possibly from /a, a day. The Greek name Aémeva, a day. Manx:
faa lilee, day-lilie.

Asparagus officinalis——Commn asparagus. Gaelic: creamh-
macfiadh. Manx: croan muck fete, wild pigs’ food. Irish:
creamh-mutc-fiadh, wild boar’s leek or garlic. The same name is
given to hart’s tongue fern. Asfdrag,.from the generic name
orapacow, to tear, on account of the strong prickles with which
some of the species are armed.

Ruscus—Latin: ruscum.

R. aculeatus—Butcher’s broom. Gaelic: calg-bhrudhainn
(Armstrong). Irish: calg-bhrudhan (Shaw)—calg, a prickle, from
its prickly leaves; and druth, druid, a thorn, anything pointed ;
brudhan, generally spelled drughan, a faggot. Or it may only be
a corruption from drum, broom. Calg bhealaidh, the prickly
broom. It was formerly used by butchers to clean their blocks,
hence the English name “butchers’ broom.” Bealaidh Chataoibh
(Logan), butchers’ broom; the Clan Chattan or Sutherland broom.
It is difficult to know where the northern clans would get it. It
is not indigenous to the Highlands or to Scotland. It has been
naturalised only in gardens and shrubberies in the north. Five
hundred years ago, when the famous clan was powerful, it is
questionable if a single plant was to be found in the Highlands.
A similar objection applies to the mistletoe, given in the same list
as the badge of the Hays. The clan would have to go south as
far as York before they would get a plant !

Said to be the badge of the Sutherlands.

NAIADACEA.
Potamogeton—Greek : zorapds, a river, and Xetrov, near.

P, natans — Broad-leaved pondweed. Gaelic: duileasg na
h-aibhne, the river dulse. Manx: dulitsh far ushteg, fresh water dulse.
Most of the species grow immersed in ponds and rivers, but
flower above the surface. Lzobhag, from “4obh, smooth, polish,
from the smooth, pellucid texture of the leaves, their surface
being destitute of down or hair of any kind. Irish: Lachroda—
liach, a spoon, vod, a water-weed, sea-weed; “ach-Brighide,
Bridget’s spoon. Probably these names were also given to the
other species of pondweeds (such as P. polygontfolius) as well as

IIo

to P. natans. The broad-leaved pond-weed is used in connection
with a curious superstition in some parts of Scotland, notably in
the West Highlands. “It is gathered in small bundles in summer
and autumn, where it is found to be plentiful, and kept until New
Year’s Day (old style); it is then put for a time into a tub or
other dish of hot water, and the infusion is mixed with the first
drink given to milch cows on New Year’s Day morning. This is
supposed to keep the cows from witchcraft and the evil eye for
the remainder of the year! It is also supposed to increase the
yield of milk.”—Dr. Stewart, Nether Lochaber.

Zostera marina—The sweet sea-grass. Gaelic and Irish:
bilearach (in Argyle, dcleanach), from dileag, a blade of grass. The
sea-grass was much used for thatching purposes, and it was sup-
posed to last longer than straw.

ALISMACE&.

Alisma—Greek : dAscpa, an acquatic plant.

A. plantago—Water-plaintain. Gaelic and Irish: cor-chopaig
(cor or cora, a weir, a dam, and copag, a dock, or any large leaf of
a plant). It grows in watery places. Welsh: Yyren, a duct, a
brink or shore.

Triglochin palustre—Arrow-grass. Gaelic: barr a’ mhilltich—

“Bun na clob is bar a’ mhilltich.” —MAacINTYRE.

The root of the moor-grass and the top of the arrow-grass.

barr, top, and mél/teach (Irish), “good grass,” and milneach, a
thorn or bodkin—hence the English name arrow-grass. Generic
name from tpets, three, and yAwxés, a point, in allusion to the three
angles of the capsule. Sheep and cattle are fond of this hardy
species, which afford an early bite on the sides of the Highland
mountains. Jid/¢each is commonly used in the sense of “grassy ;”
maghannan mitlteach, verdant or grassy meadows.

LEMNACEA,

Lemna minor—Duckweed. Gaelic:! mac gun athair, son
without a father. Irish: dus gan athair gan mhathair, fatherless,

1 Mac-gun-athair may have originally been meacan air—meacan, a plant,
air, gen. of a7, slow (hence the name of the river ‘‘Arar” in France, meaning
the slow-flowing river—‘‘ Avar dubitans qui suos cursos agat ’—SENECA,

motherless wort. A curious name, perhaps suggested by the root
being suspended from its small egg-shaped leaf, and not affixed to
the ground. Gvran-lachan—gran, seed, grain, and /ach, a duck.
The roundish leaves, and the fact that ducks are voraciously fond
of feeding on them, have suggested this and the following names:
—os-lacha, the ducks’ rose or flower. Irish: abhran donog
(O’Reilly) - abzran is the plural of adfjra, an eyelid, and donog,
a kind of fish, a young ling. The fish’s eyelids; more likely a
corruption of avan tunnaig, duck’s bread or meat. It was used
by our Celtic ancestors as a cure for headaches and inflammations.

ARACE#.

Arum, formerly avon, etymology doubtful. The roots of many
of the species are used both for food and medicine.

A. maculatum—Wake-robin, lords and ladies. Gaelic: cluas
chaoin, the soft ear (caoin, soft, smooth, gentle, &c., and c/uas,
ear). The ear-shaped spathe would suggest the name Cuthuaidh,
a bulb—hence cutharlan, any bulbous-rooted plant. Cuthaidh
means also wild, savage. Gachar and gaoicin cuthigh are given in
O’Reilly’s Dictionary as names for the Arum from caz, a cuckoo.
Old English: cuckoo’s pint. Welsh: pidyn y gég, cuckoo's pint.

ORONTIACEA.

Acorus calamus—Sweet-flag. Gaelic: cutd-mhilis, sweet-rush ;

** Cuile mhilis agus canal.”

Calamus and cinnamon.

cuilc, a reed, a cane, and mis, sweet. Greek: xdéAapos, applied to
reeds, bulrush canes, ¢.g., ‘‘cuide na Léig,” the reeds of Lego.
“ Cobhan cutlc,” an ark of bulrushes. Cuzlc-chrann, cane. Before
the days of carpets, this plant is said to have supplied the
“rushes” with which it was customary to strew the floors of houses,
churches, and monasteries,

TYPHACE.

Typha, from Greek tvdos, a marsh in which all the species
naturally grow.

T. latifolia—Great reed-mace or cat’s-tail. Gaelic. and Irish:
bodan dubh, from bod, a tail, and dubh, large, or dark. Cuigeal

I12

nam ban-sith,' the fairy-women’s distaff. Cuigeal nan losgunn,
the frogs’ distaff. It is often, but incorrectly, called bog bhuine
or bulrush (see Scirpus lacustris). The downy seeds were used
for stuffing pillows, and the leaves for making mats, chair. bottoms,
thatch, and sometimes straw hats or bonnets. The great reed
mace (Zypha latifolia) cuigeal nam ban sith, is usually represented
by painters in the hand of our Lord, as supposed to be the reed
with which He was smitten by the Roman soldiers, and on which
the sponge filled with vinegar was reached to Him.

T. angustifolia—Lesser reed-mace or cat’s-tail) Irish: dodan
(O’Reilly), dim. of dod, a tail, &c.

Sparganium—Name in Greek denoting a little band, from the
ribbon-like leaves,

S. ramosum-——Branched bur-reed. Gaelic: seésg righ, the king’s
sedge, from its being a large plant with sword-shaped leaves.
Seisg mheirg (Stewart)—meirg, rust, a standard or banner. Manx:
curtlagh muck, the pig’s reed.

S. simplex— Upright bur-reed. Gaelic: sedsg madraidh,
Armstrong gives this name to S. evectum, by which he doubtless
means this plant. Seisg (Welsh: hesg.) sedge, and madradh, a
dog, a mastiff. Name probably suggested by the plant being in
perfection in the dog-days, the month of July, am mlos madrail.

JUNCACEZ.

Juncus, from the Latin jumgo, to join. The first ropes were
made from rushes, and also floor covering. Ancient Gaelic: aoin,
from aon, one. Latin: wus. Greek: ev. Ger.: eva. Manx:
shune. Welsh: driwynen.

‘©A dath amar dhath an aeil,
Coilcigh eturra agus aein.
Sida eturra is brat gorm,
Derg or eturra is glan chorn,

(From the description of the Lady Crehé’s house by Caeilté’s MacRonain,
from the Book of Ballymote).

» Ban sith—A female fairy seen generally before the death of some great
one, as a chieftain, and then always dressed in a green mantle, with loose flying
hair.

113

The colour [of her dz] is like the colour of lime:
Within it are couches and green rushes ;

Within it are silks and blue mantles;

Within it are red gold and crystal cups.

J. conglomeratus—Common rush. Gaelic and Irish: Juachair, a.
general name for all the rushes, meaning splendour, brightness.
Manx: /eagher. Latin: dex. Sanscrit: Zouk, light. The pith of
this and-the next species was commonly used to make rush-lights.
The rushes were stripped of their outer green skin, all except one
narrow stripe, and then they were drawn through melted grease
and laid across a stool to set. “The title Luachra was given to:
the chief Druid and magician, considered by the pagan Irish as a
deity, who opposed St. Patrick at Tarra in the presence of the
king and the nobility, who composed the convention.”—‘ Life of
St. Patrick’ Srdg brdidhe (O’Reilly)—érdg, a shoe ; but here it
should be 4rddf, straw ; dradidhe, a mountain, the mountain straw
or stem.

J. effusus—Soft rush. Gaelic: /uachair bhog, soft rush. Irish:
feath, a bog. It grows best in boggy places. ead, which seems
to be the same name, is given also to the bulrush. Séad, a
whistle, a bustle.

‘°S Honmhor feadan caol,

Air an éirich gaoth.”—MACINTYRE.
Doubtless suggested by the whistling of the wind among the
rushes and reeds. The common rush and the soft rush were
much used in ancient times as bed-stuffs; they served for strewing.
floors, making rough couches, &c., and for thatching houses.
Glas-tugha, green thatch, dr luachair (ar, fresh, green). (See
BRYACEZ. )

J. articulatus—Jointed rush. Gaelic: lochan nan damh. This.
name is given by Lightfoot in his ‘Flora Scotica,’ but it should
have been /achan nan damh. Lachan,a reed, the ox or the hart’s reed.

J. squarrosus—Heath-rush, stool-bent. Gaelic: éru-chorcan,
bruth-chorcan, bru, a deer, and corcan, oats, ‘deers’ oats” (Macbain).
bru-chorcur (Macalpine)—bru-chorachd.

“* Bru-chorachd is clob, }
Lusan am bi brigh,” &c.
—MACcINTYRE in ‘ Ben Doran.”
Hleath-rush and deer’s hair,
Plants nuitritious they are, &c.
1 See Scirpus cespitosus.

114

Specimens of this plant have also been supplied with- the Gaelic
name moran labelled thereon, and in another instance muran.
These names mean the plants with tapering roots; the same
signification in the Welsh, moron, a carrot. (See Muirneach—
Ammophila arenaria).

J. maritimus and acutus—Sea-rush, Irish: meithan (O'Reilly).
Meith, fat, corpulent. 7. acutus (the great sea-rush) is the largest
British species.

Luzula—Name supposed to have been altered from Italian,
Zucciola, a glow-worm. It was called by the ancient botanists
gramen luxule (Latin, Zex, light).

L. sylvatica—Wood-rush. Gaelic: Zuachair choille, the bright
grass or rush of the wood. The Italian name /uccio/a is said to be
given from the sparkling appearance of the heads of flowers when
wet with dew or rain. Learman (Stewart), possibly from /ear or
Zéir, clear, discernible; a very conspicuous plant, more of the
habit of a grass than a rush, the stalk rising to the height of more
than two feet, and bearing a terminal cluster of brownish flowers,
with large light-yellow anthers.

CYPERACEZ.

Shoenus (from xotvos or oxotves, a cord in Greek), From
plants of this kind cords or ropes were made.

§. nigricans——Bog-rush. Gaelic: sé¢mhean (Armstrong). Irish:
seimhin (seimh, smooth, shining—the spikelets being smooth and
shining: or which is more likely, from stobh or siobhag, straw—
hence stoman, a rope made of straw or rushes; the Greek name
oxotvos for the same reason).

Scirpus, sometimes written sirpus (Freund), seems to be cognate
with the Celtic cirs, cors, a bog-plant; hence Welsh, corsfruyn, a
bulrush (Gaelic, cwrcais) | Many plants of this genius were like-
wise formerly used for making ropes. (Cords, Latin, chorda;
Welsh, cord; Gaelic and Irish, corda; Spanish, cuerda.

S. maritimus—Sea-scirpus. Gaelic and Irish: 47044. Name
from drd, bra, or brath, a quern, a hand mill. The roots are
large and very nutritious for cattle, and in times of scarcity
were ground down in the muzleann brath (French, moulin & bras );
to make meal; dvacan, broth—hence bracha, malt, because pre-

115

pared by manual labour (Greek, Bpaytwv; Latin, Arachium;
Gaelic, draic, French, dras, the arm).

8. caspitosus—Tufted scirpus, deer’s hair, heath club-rush.
Gaelic: cob, cipe, and clob ceann-dubh (clob—xiBos; Latin,
tibus, food; ceann, head; dubh, black.

‘*Le’n cridheacha’ meara
Le bainne na cloba.”,—MACINTYRE.
Trish: céabh, a lock of hair. Ctabh-ceann-dubh. This is the
principal food of cattle and sheep in the Highlands in March, and
till the end of May. Cruach luachair—cruach, a heap, a pile, a
hill, and Zuachatr, a rush.
The badge of the Clan Mackenzie.

8. lacustris—Bulrush, lake-scirput. Gaelic: Zvachair-ghobhlach
the forked rush (gobhal, a fork), from the forked or branched
appearance of the cymes appearing from the top of tall, terete
(or nearly so), leafless stems | When this tall stem is cut, it
goes by the name of cuz/c,1.a cane, and is used to bottom chairs.
Trish: gid¢un—gib or giob, rough, and aoim,a rush. Gaelic and
Irish: bog mhuine, boigean, bog luachair, bog,? a marsh, a fen,
swampy ground. to bob, to wag—names indicating its habitat,
also its top-heavy appearance, causing it to have a bobbing or
wagging motion. Curcats (curach, a marsh, a fen), is more a
generic term, and equals scizpus. Min-fheur,a bulrush. (See
Festuca ovina.)

Eriophorum (from ép:ov, wool, and épw, to bear). Its seeds are
-covered with a woolly substance—hence it is called cotton-grass.

E. vaginatum and E. polystachyon—Cotton-sedge. Scotch:
cat’s-tail, Gaelic and Irish: canach. Irish: cona (from can, white),
from its hypogynous bristles forming dense tufts of white cottony
down, making the plant very conspicuous in peaty bogs. The
canach in its purity and whiteness formed the object of comparison
in Gaelic poetry for purity, fair complexion, &c., especially in
love-songs :—

“‘Do chneas mar an canach
Cho ceanalta tlath.”—MACINTYRE.
Thy skin white as the cotton-grass
So tender and gentle.

1“ Mu loghan nan cuilc a tha ruadh.”—TIGHMORA.

2 Bog and bolg are frequently interchanged—bolg luachair, prominent or
massy rush,

116
‘Bu ghile na’n canach a cruth.”—OssIan.-
Her form was fairer than the cotton-down.
In Ossian the plant is also called caoin cheann (caotn, soft), the
soft heads, fair heads.

‘*Ghlac mi’n caoin cheanna sa’ bheinn
’S iad ag aomadh mu shruthaibh thall
Fo charnaibh, bu dlomhaire gaoth.”—-TiGHMORA.

I seized cotton-grasses on the hill,
As they waved by the secret streams,
In places sheltered from the wind.

This is only the plural form of the name canach—caneichean.

“ Na caineichean aluinn an t-sléibh.”—MacLeop.
ceannach-na-mona (O'Reilly). Ceann bhan mina (Threl). Siodha
monah (Threl)—Cotton grass, mountain silk. O'Reilly gives the
name sgathog fiadhain to LE. polystachyon—sgath, a tail, and og
(dim. termination), the little tail--to distingnish it from vaginatum,
which is larger. Scotch: ca?’s-caz?.

Badge of Clan Sutherland according to some.

Carex (likely from Welsh, cors; Gaelic, carr, a bog, a marsh, or
fenny ground).—This numerous family of plants grows mostly in
such situations. Sezsg, sedge; gad/-sheilisdear, also setlisdear amh
(for Sec/isdear, see Lris)—amh, raw—the raw sedge. Welsh: hesg.
Seasg, barren, unfruitful. Except C. régida, they are scarcely
touched by cattle. According to Dr. Hooker, cavex is derived
from Greek xepwi, from the cvéting foliage. The Sanscrit root is
kar, to cut, shear, divide.

C. vulgaris, and many of the other large species—Common
sedge. Gaelic: gatnnise (Stewart)—gainne, a sedge, reed, cane,
arrow; and seasg.

GRAMINEZ.

Grass generally. éur. Manx: fetyr. Seamaide, blades of
grass. Dorbh, grass. Welsh: glaswellt, porfa.

Agrostis alba—Fiorin-grass. Gaelic and Irish: froran, feorine,
or fior-than; derived from Gaelic: fewr, feoir, grass, herbage,
fodder. Latin: vireo, I grow green—ver, spring; fenum, fodder
—vrand vz being interchangeable. This name is applied in the
dictionaries to the common couch-grass, because, like it, it retains
a long time its vital power, and propagates itself by extending its
roots.

ily

Alopecurus—Foxtail-grass Gaelic: fideag—jit, food, refresh-
‘ment. Latin: va.
A. geniculatus—Gaelic: fideag cham—
“* A’ chuiseag dhireach ’s an Shiteag cham.’’—MACINTYRE.
cam, bent, from the knee-like bend in the stalk. A valuable
grass for hay and pasture.

Arundo Phragmites—Reed-grass. Gaelic: seasgan; seasg, a
reed. Biorrach-lachan, the common reed. Irish: cruzsgiornach,
cruisigh, music, song; from its stem veeds for pipes were manu-
factured. Reeds were said by the Greeks to have tended to
subjugate nations by furnishing arrows for war, to soften their
manners by means of music, and to lighten their understanding
by supplying implements for writing. These modes of employ-
ment mark three different stages of civilisation. Welsh: cawn
wellt, cane-grass: gweé/t, grass.

Anthoxanthum odoratum—Sweet meadow-grass. Gaelic:
mistean, from milis, sweet.

‘San canach min geal’s mslean ann.”—MACINTYRE.
The soft white cotton-grass and the sweet grass are there.

Borrach (borradh, scent, smell).—In some places this name is
‘given to the Wardus stricta, which see. This is the grass that
‘gives the peculiar smell to meadow hay. Though common in
meadows, it grows nearly to the top of the Grampians (3400
feet); hence the names are given as ‘‘a species of mountain
grass” in some dictionaries. :

Milium effusum—Millet-grass. Gaelic: mleid. Welsh: miled.
‘The name derived from the true #//ef misapplied. Millet is
translated in the Gaelic Bible meanbh pheasair, small peas (see
Faba vulgaris ).—¥zekiel iv. 9.

Phleum pratense—Timothy grass, cat’s-tail grass. Gaelic:
bodan, a little tail; the same name for Zypha angustifolia. ‘‘This
grass was introduced from New York and Carolina in 1780 by
‘Timothy Hanson.”—-Loupon. It seems to have been unknown
in the Hebrides and the Highlands before that date; for Dr.
Walker (‘Rural Econ. Hebrides,’ ii. 27), says “that it may be
introduced into the Highlands with good effect.” Yet Lightfoot
(1777) mentions it as ‘‘by the waysides, and in pastures, but not
common.” Bodan is also applied to P. arenarium and P. alpinum.

118

Lepturus filiformis—Gaelic: dur-fheur fairge, hard sea-grass-
Dur, hard (Latin, durus),; feur, grass; fairg, the sea, ocean,
wave. It grows all round Ireland, as well as in England and
South Scotland. Irish: durfher fairge (O'Reilly).

Calamagrostis—Etym, xéAapos, and dypéatis, reed-grass.

C. epigejos—Wood small reed. Cuzle-fheur, cane-grass; gainne
—cane. Lachan coille, wood-rush.

Ammophila arenaria (or Psamma arenaria)—Sea-maram ; sea-
matweed. Gaelic and Irish: muirineach, from muir (Latin, mare,
the sea), the ocean. It is extensively propagated to bind the sand
on the sea shore; generally called mzran on west coast. The
same name is applied to the carrot, an alteration of moran—a
plant with large tapering roots. Macintyre alludes to “‘ muran
brioghar,” but whether he refers to the carrot or to this grass is
a matter of controversy. Not being a seaside Highlander, he
was more likely to know the carrot, wild and cultivated, far
better than this seaside grass, and associating it with groundsel
(a plant which usually grows rather too abundantly wherever
carrots are sown), makes it a certainty that he had not the “sea-
maram” in his mind. (See Daucus carota.”) Metlearach (Mac-
bain)—‘‘A long seaside grass, from Norse me/r, bent.” From
inquiries made, most likely this is another name for Psamma
arenaria, a grass two or three feet high, common all maritime
sands. The grasses commonly called “ Bent” are Agrostis and
Cynosorus. Manx: shaslagh.

Avena sativa—Oats. Gaelic and Irish: cotrvc. Welsh: ceirch..
Armoric: guerch. Probably from the Sanskrit 4arc, to crush.

“Ts fhearr slol caol cozvce fhaotuinn 4 droch fhearann na bhi falamh.”
Better smal] oats than nothing out of bad land.

The small variety, 4. muda, the naked or hill oat, when ripe,
drops the grain from the husk; it was therefore more generally
cultivated two centuries ago. It was made into meal by drying it
on the hearth, and bruising it in a stone-mortar, the “ muzleann
brath”—hand-mill or quern. Some of them may still be seen
about Highland and Irish cottages. Martin mentions an ancient
custom observed on the 2nd of February. The mistress and
servant of each family take a sheaf of oats and dress it in woman's
apparel, put it in a large basket, with a wooden club by it, and
this they call Briid’s bed. They cry three times Briid is come,

aly

and welcome. This they do before going to bed, and when they
rise in the morning they look at the ashes for the impress of
Briid’s club there ; if seen, a prosperous year will follow.

A. fatua and pretensis—Wild oats. Gaelic: cotrce fiadhain,
wild oats ; coirc dubh, black oats. Also applied to the Brome
grasses,

“ Do'n t-siol chruithneachd, chuireadh gu tiugh ;
Cha b’ e’ n thideag, no’ n cotrce dubh.”—MACDONALD.
When oats become black with blight, the name core dubh is
applied, but especially to the variety called Avena strigosa.

Elymus arenarius—Lyme grass. Gaelic : ¢azthean (Carmichael).
A common seaside grass, with long creeping root stocks, some-
thing in appearance like barley, but much stiffer, two to four feet
high.

Hordeum distichon—Barley, the kind which is in common
cultivation. (‘ Barley” comes from Celtic dav, bread, now
obsolete in Gaelic, but still retained in Welsh—hence dara, and
by the change of the vowel, deer.) Gaelic and Irish: eorna, orna.
Manx: oarn. Irish: earn (perhaps from Latin, Zorreo, to bristle ;
Gaelic, dv, a beard)—O’Reilly. “The bearded or bristly barley ;”
“drag,” a sheaf of corn. Hordeum, sometimes written ordeum
(Freund), is from the same root. ‘‘It was cultivated by the
Romans for horses, and also for the army; and gladiators in
training were fed with it, and hence called hordiarit.” It is still
used largely in the Highlands for bread, but was formerly made
into “crowdie,” properly corrody, from Low Latin, corrodium, a worry.

‘* Fuarag edrna ’n sail mo bhroige,
Biadh a b’ fhearr a fhuair mi riamh.”

Barley-crowdie in my shoe,
The sweetest food I ever knew.

Irish: ca‘neog, oats and barley—from cazz (Greek, xnvoos ; Latin,
census), rent, tribute. Rents were frequently paid in “kind,”
instead of in money.”

Secale cereale—Common rye. Gaelic and Irish: seagad.
Greek: weyaAy. Armoric: segal. French: sezgle. Manx: feryr

shogevi.
‘© An cruithneach agus an seagal.” —EXxoDUs.
The wheat and the zye.

Welsh: rhyg, rye.
Molinia cerulea—Purple melic-grass. Gaelic: bunglas (Mac-

120

donald), punglas. (Bun, a root, a stack; gas, blue.) The
fishermen round the west coast and in Skye made ropes for their
nets of this grass, which they find by experience will bear the
water well without rotting. Irish: mezloigfér corcuir (O'Reilly),
—mealoig—melic (from me/, honey), the pith is like honey ; fer or
Jéur, grass ; corcuiy, crimson or purplish. In some parts of the
Highlands the plant is called dvaban (Stewart).

Glyceria—From Greek, yAvxvs, sweet, in allusion to the foliage.

G. fluitans—Floating sweet grass. Afilsean uisge, mullteach
uisge—perhaps from mse, sweetness. Horses, cattle, and swine
are fond of this grass, which only grows in watery places. ‘Trout
(Salmo fario) eat the seeds greedily. The name mzd/teach is fre-
quently applied to grass generally, as well as to Zriglochin palustre
(which see). eur uisge, water-grass.

Briza—Quaking-grass. Gaelic and Irish: conan —conan, a hound,
a hero, a rabbit—may possibly be named after the celebrated
“Conan Maol,’? who was known among the Féinne for his
thoughtless impetuosity. He is called “dzmlisg na Féinne,” the
mischief of the Fenians. This grass is also called feur gortach,
hungry, starving grass. ‘A weakness, the result of sudden hunger,
said to come on persons during a long journey or in particular
places, in consequence of treading on the fairy grass ”—(Irish
Superstitions). eur sithein sithe—literally, a blast of wind; a
phantom, a fairy. The oldest authority in which this word si¢he
occurs is Tirechan’s ‘ Annotations on the Life of St. Patrick,’ in
the Book of Armagh, and is translated “ Ded terreni,” or gods of
the earth. Crith-fheur, quaking grass. Grigdeann (in Breadalbane),
that which is in a cluster, a festoon ; the Gaelic name given to the
constellation Pleiades. Ceann air chrith, quaking-grass. Welsh:
cryadwellt. Coire circe, hen’s corn.

Cynosurus—Etym, «voy, a dog, and ovpd, a tail.

C. cristatus—Crested dog’s-tail. Gaelic: goinear, or goin-fheur,
and sometimes conan (from coin, dogs, and feur, grass). Irish:
Seur choinein, dog’s grass.

Festuca—Gaelic: férsd. Irish: féiste. Latin: fastus and festus.
French: fes¢e, now féfe. English: feast, as applied to grass, good
pasture, or food for cattle.

Lou

F. ovina—Sheep’s fescue-grass. Gaelic and Irish : fear chaorach.
“ Min-fheur chaorach.”—MACcINTYRE.
Soft sheep grass.

‘This grass has fine sweet foliage, well adapted for feeding sheep
.and for producing good mutton—hence the name —_— But Sir H.
Davy has proved it to be less nutritious than was formerly supposed.
MinSheur (Armstrong), is applied to any soft grass—as Aolcus
mollis—to a flag, a bulrush; as “mln fheur gun uisge,’ a bulrush
without water (in Job).

Triticum, according to Varro, was so named from the grain
being originally ground down. Latin: ¢ri¢us, occurring only in
the ablative (zero). Greek: tepw, to rub, bruise, grind.

T. estivum (and other varieties)—Wheat. Gaelic and Irish:
ruithneachd—cruineachd. Manx: curnaght. This name seems to
be associated with the Cruithne, a tribe or tribes who, according
to tradition, came from Lochlan to Erin, and from thence to
Alban, where they founded a kingdom which lasted down till the
seventh century. Another old name for wheat—-dreothan—may
‘similarly be connected with another ancient tribe, “C/lanna Breogan.
They occupied the territory where Ptolemy in the second century
places an offshoot of Brirish Brigantes."—SkENE. Were these
tribes so called in consequence of cultivating and using wheat? or
was it so called from those tribal names? are questions that are
difficult to answer. It seems at least probable that they were
among the first cultivators of wheat and Britain and Ireland.
Breothan, that which is bruised; the same in meaning as ¢riticum.
Other forms occur, as dvachtan,1 being bruised or ground by
hand in the “szudleann brath,’ the quern; sometimes spelled’
.bveacthtan. Mann, wheat food. Mormann—for, genuine, and
mann, a name given to a variety called French wheat. Zucreann,
perhaps from ¢wive, good, excellent. The flour of wheat is univer-
sally allowed to make the best bread in the world. Roman,
Roman or French wheat ; “ branks.”

T. repens—Couch, twitch. Scotch: dog-grass, quickens, &c.

‘Latin: dvace or brance. Gallic, of a particularly. white kind of corn.
According to Hardouin, d/¢ blanc Dauphiné, Triticum Hibernum, Linn., var.
Granis albis. Lat., sandala.

‘*Gallize quoque suum genus farris dedere: quod illie brance vocant apud
nos sandalum nitidissimi grani.”—PLIny, 18, 7.

122

Gaelic: feur-a’-phuint (Mackenzie), the grass with points or articu-
lations. Every joint of the root, however small, having the
principle of life in it, and throwing out shoots when left in the
ground, causing great annoyance to farmers. (From the root punc
or pung; Latin, punctum, a point.) Goin-fheur, dog’s-grass ; or
goin, a wound, hurt, twitch. According to Rev. Dr. Stewart,
Nether Lochaber, this name is also given to Cynosurus. Fiothran,
the detestable. It is one of the worst weeds in arable lands on:
account of the propagating power of the roots. Bruim fheur,
flatulent grass. Probably only a term of contempt, on account of
its worthlessness. Manx: fezyr vodde, dog grass.

T, junceum—Sea-wheat gras. Gaelic: glas fheur, the pale
green grass ; a seaside grass. It helps, with other species, to bind
the sand.

Lolium perenne and temulentum—Darnell, rye grass. Gaelic:
breoillean. Irish: dbreallan (breall or breallach, knotty), from the
knotty appearances of the spikes, or from its medicinal virtues in
curing glandular diseases. ‘And being used with quick brimstone
and vinegar, it dissolveth knots and kernels, and breaketh those
that are hard to be dissolved.”—CuLpuprer. Dithean, darnel ;.
perhaps from ah, want, poverty. It may be so named from its.
growing on poor sterile soil, which it is said to improve. “They
have lately sown ray-grass to improve cold, clayey soil ”—Dr.
Piatt, 1677. Rotlle. Irish: ratdhleadh, from raidhe, a ray—
-hence the old English name, vay-grass. French: zvraze, darnel.
Welsh: e/7—peroaps alterations of the French zyve, drunk. The-
seeds of darnel, when mixed with meal, cause intoxication, and
are believed to produce vertigo in sheep—the disease that maketh
them reel; and for this reason the grass is often called s¢urdan,
from s¢urd—hence Scotch sturdy grass. Stobhach, from siobhas,
rage, fury, madness. “It is a malicious plant of sullen Saturn:
as it is not without some vices, so it hath also many virtues.”—
CULPEPPER. Cutseach (Macalpine), rye-grass. Ruintealas
(O'Reilly), the loosening, aperient, or purgative grass—from
ruinnec, grass, and fealach, loosening.

Nardus stricta—Mat-grass, moor-grass. Gaelic: Jettean (per-
haps from Jdecthe), was refused. Cattle refuse to eat it. It
remains in consequence in dense tufts, till it is scorched by early
frosts. In this condition it is frequently burned, in order to-

123

destroy it. Borrach (in some places), parching. Carran (Stewart),.
a name given also to Sfergula arvensis. To this grass and other’
rough species, as rushes, sedges, &c., the name 7iasg is given..
Anglo-Saxon: vzsce, a rush.

“ Cuiseagan is riasg
*Chinneas air an t-sliabh.”—MACINTYRE.

Aira flexuosa—Waved hair-grass. Gaelic: mdin-fheur, peat-
grass. It grows generally in peaty soil.

CRYPTOGAMIA.
FILIcES.

Filices—Ferns. Gaelic: vaineach, rotneach. Irish: raith,
vatthne, raithneach, also, reathnach. Manx: rhenniaght. Welsh:
rhedyn. Perhaps formed from vea¢h, a revolution or turning.
about, or raz, motion, from the circinate revolution of the young
fronds—an essential characteristic of ferns.

Polypodium vulgare—C/loch-reathnach (Armstrong), the stone-
fern; cloch, a stone. It is common on stone walls, stones, and old
stems of trees. Cets-chrann. Irish: céts chrainn—cis, a tax,
tribute, and cvann, a tree, because it draws the substance from the
trees ; or from the crosier-like development of the fronds, like a
shepherd’s crook, ‘‘cis-cean.” Sgeamh nan cloch. Sgeamh means
reproach, and sgamh or sgéimh, beauty, ornament ; “‘zan cloch,” of
the stones. The second idea seems, at least in modern times, to-
be more appropriate than the first, especially as the term was.
applied to the really beautiful oak-fern.

Reidh raineach—reidh, smooth, plain. Ratneach nan crag, the
rock-fern. Afeurlag (in Lochaber), from mez, a finger, from a
fancied resemblance of the pinnules to fingers. (See Ce¢erach.)

P. dryopteris—Oak-fern. Gaelic and Irish: sgeamh dharaich
(O’Reilly), the oak-fern. No Gaelic name is recorded for the
beech-fern (P. Phegopteris ).

Blechnum spicant—Hard fern. The only Gaelic name supplied
for this fern is “an raineach chruatdh,” hardfern. It is impossible-
to say whether this is a translation or not. Being a conspicuous.
and well-defined fern, it must have had a Gaelic name.

Cystopteris fragilis—Bladder-fern. Gaelic: frvodh raineach,
or frioth fhraineach—“ frioth,” small, slender. The tufts are
usually under a foot long ; stalks very slender.

124

C. montana—Mountain bladder fern, found only on Ben
‘Gourdie—between Glenlyon and Glen Lochay—is known to the
shepherds and farmers there by the name of Rainneach Bheinn
Ghourdie.

Polystichum aculeatum, lobatum, and angulare—Gaelic: 7bhig
(Rev. Dr. Stewart), the name by which the shield-ferns are known
in the West Highlands. This name may have reference to the
medicinal drinks formerly made from the powdered roots being
taken in water as a specific for worms (see L. /i/ix-mas), from if,
a drink. French: zvve. Latin: edrius.

P. lonchitis—Holly fern. Gaelic: vaineach chuilinn (Stewart),
holly fern, known by that name in Lorne: also colg raineach, in
Breadalbane and elsewhere. For cudleann and colg, see Llex
aquifolium.

Lastrea oreopteris—Sweet mountain fern. Gaelic: cvim-raineach
(Stewart). Most likely from creim, a scar, the stalks being covered
with brown scarious scales. In some places the name vaineach an
fhaile is given, from faile, a scent, a smell. This species may be
easily distinguished by the minute glandular dots on the under side
of the fronds, from which a fragrant smell is imparted when the
plant is bruised.

L. filix-mas—Male fern. Gaelic and Irish: marc raineach,
horse-fern. AZarc. Welsh: march. Old High German: marah,
amare. This fern has been celebrated from time immemorial as
.a specific for worms; the powdered roots, taken in water, were
considered an excellent remedy. Irish : va‘neach-madra, dog-fern.

L. spinulosa, and the allied species, ddatata and entsectt, are
known by the name vaineach nan rodan, from Latin, rodo.
Sanscrit: vad, to break up, split, gnaw—the rat’s fern, in Morven,
Mull, and Lewis. ‘Dr. Hooker is mistaken as to the range of this
fern, as it is extremely abundant here, at least in the form of
dilatata’” —(Lewis correspondent).!_ The name rat’s fern, from its
commonness in holes, and the haunts of rats.

1 My well-informed correspondent also remarks :—‘“I may mention one or
‘two other plants, regarding which Dr. Hooker’s information is slightly out.
His Salix repens is very common here and in Caithness, though absent in at
least some parts further south. U¢ricularia minor can easily be found in
quantities near the Butt of Lewis; and Scutellaria minor, which he allows no
further than Dumbarton, grows equally far north, although all I am aware of

could be covered by a table-cloth. Another interesting plant, Eryngium
maritimum, grows in a single sandy bay on our west coast.”

125

Athyrium filix feemina—Lady-fern. Gaelic ann Irish: raineach
Mhuire, Mary’s fern—Muire, the Virgin Mary, Our Lady, fre-
quently occurring in plant names in all Christian countries.

A. ceterach—Scale fern. Gaelic: mearlag, from mear, a finger
(Stuart). Old English: finger fern. Growing on rocks and walls,.
‘from Argyle and Perth southward. The fronds are covered with
brown chaffy scales beneath. Welsh: rhedyn gogofau, cave fern.

Aeplenium—From Greek: a, privative, and orA7v, the spleen.

A. trichomanes—Black spleenwort. Gaelic and Irish: dudz
chasach, dark-stemmed. Lus na seilg, from sealg, the spleen. This.
plant was formerly held to be a sovereign remedy for all diseases.
of this organ, and to be so powerful as even to destroy it if
employed in excess. Las a chorrain. Urthalmhan (O'Reilly)
—ur, green, and ¢alamh, the earth. As dubh-chasach is the com-
mon name for Z7ichomanes—probably wr thalmhan was applied to-
A viride. Failtean fionn, see A. capillus-Venerts.

A marinum—Sea fern. Gaelic: raineach na mara, sea fern.
Welsh: dueg redynen arfor, marine spleen fern.

A. ruta-muraria—Rue fern. Gaelic: rue bhallaidh, wall rue.
Welsh: redynen y murian, wall fern.

A. adiantum-nigrum—Gaelic: az raineach uaine, the green fern.
Irish: craobh muc fiadh (O’Reilly)—craobh, a tree, a plant, and
muc fiadh, wild pig or boar.

Scolopendrium vulgare—Hart’s-tongue fern. Gaelic: creamh
muc fiadh, or in Irish, creamh nam muc fiadh. Wild boar’s wort,
a name also given to Asparagus.

Pteris aquilina—Common brake. Gaelic: an raineach mhor,
the large fern. Manx: rhenniagh woirrey, also applied to Osmunda.
Raith (see Polypodium). The brake is used for various purposes
by the Gaels, such as for thatching cottages; and beds were also.
made of it. It is esteemed a good remedy for rickets in children,.
‘and for curing worms. In Ireland the bracken fern is often
called the Fern of God, from an old belief that if the stem be cut
into three pieces there will be seen on the first slice the letter G,.
on the second O, and on the third D, thus spelling Gop.

Adiantum capillus-Veneris—Maiden-hair fern. Gaelic: /fail-
tean fionn (Armstrong), from fade, hair, and jonn, fair, resplendent..

126

‘This fern is only known in the Highlands by cultivation. This
name is frequently given to Zrichomanes (dubh chasach) impro-
perly. Manx: fol¢ voidyn, maiden hair. In the Catholic Church
the fern is known as “The Virgin’s Hair.”

Ophioglossum—From Greek: édus, a serpent: and Aydooa, a
tongue. The little fertile stalk springing straight out of the grass
may not inaptly be compared to a snake’s tongue.

0. vulgatum—Adder’s tongue. us na nathrach (Mackenzie),
‘the serpent’s weed. TZeanga na nathrach, the adder’s tongue,
Welsh : fafad y neidr, adder’s tongue. In the Western Highlands,
beasan or feasan (Stewart).

Osmunda—Osmunder, in Northern mythology, was one of the
sons of Thor (Gaelic: Zordan), the thunderer, the Jove of the
Celts. ‘This stately flowering fern is said to derive its name
from the following legend:—A waterman named Osmund once
dwelt on the banks of Loch Fyne, with his wife and daughter.
‘One day a band of fugitives burst into his cottage, and warned
Osmund that the cruel Danes were fast approaching the ferry.
‘Osmund heard them with fear; he trembled for those he held
dearer than life. Suddenly the shouts of furious men roused him
to action. Snatching up his oars, he rowed his wife and child
‘to a small island covered with this fern, and helping them to land,
he bade them lie down beneath the foliage for protection. Scarcely
had the ferryman returned to his cottage ere a company of fierce
Danes rushed in, but knowing he would be of service to them,
‘they did him no harm. He then ferried them across the lake.
Osmund thanked God for preserving them all, but the daughter
ever after called the fern “Osmund” (Folkard’s Plant Legends).
Gerard, in describing the stem of the Osmznda, which, upon being
‘cut, exhibits a white centre, calls this portion of the fern “the
heart of Osmund, the waterman,” probably in allusion to the above
tradition. °

O. regalis—Royal fern. Gaelic: raimeach rioghail, kingly fern;
righ raineach, royal fern. In Ireland it is called the “bog onion.”
Bog uinnean. Manx: bog uinnish or bog rentsh.

Botrychium lunaria—Moonwort. Gaelic: Zan Zus, moonwort.
Manx: dus Zuna, Welsh: y /ettadlys—leuad, moon. Luan, the

127

moon. Latin: Juma. French: dune. Déur lus and dealt lus
{Stewart)—déur, a tear, a drop of any fluid, and dea/t, dew. Name
also applied to the sundew. This plant was held in superstitious
reverence among Celtic and other nations. Horses were said to
lose their shoes where it grew. ‘On Sliabh Riabhach Mountain
no horse can keep its shoes; and to this day it is said that on
Lord Dunsany’s Irish property there is a field where it is supposed
all live stock lose their nails if pastured there.” “A Limerick
story refers to a man in Clonmel jail who could open all the locks
by means of this plant.” Similar superstitions still linger in the
Highlands.
There is an herb, some say whose virtue’s such

It in the pasture, only with a touch,
Unshoes the new-shod steed.

<©On White Down, in Devonshire, near Tiverton, there was found
thirty horse-shoes pulled off from the feet of horses belonging to
the Earl of Essex, his horses there being drawn up into a bedy,
many of them being but newly shod, and no reason known, which
caused much admiration; and the herb described usually grows
upon heaths.”—-CuLPepper. us na mees (Threl). Lus nam
mios. The month plant. Old Irish: ms. Welsh: mis. Anglo-
Saxon: ménath. Hence month, from méxza, the moon. In olden
times nearly all the officinal plants were supposed to be governed
by the sun, moon, and planets. (The herbalist generally signed
himself ‘Student in Physick and Astrology.”) For example, the
corn flower was under the moon; ginger the sun; pepper, Mars;
pines, Venus, &c., hence “Zan Jus” and “lus nam mios,” names of
this plant. The moonwort is found sparingly in the Highlands.
It is a small plant of the fern tribe, but very unlike the ordinary
fern, a few inches in height, with a frond of small fan-like leaves,
and a spike of dusty-coloured spores. Ferns frequently formed
components in charms.

‘¢ Faigh naoi gasan rainich
Air an gearradh, le tuaigh,
Is tri chnaimhean seann-duine
Air an tarruing a uaigh,” &c,—MAcINTYRE,

Get nine branches of ferns
Cut with an axe,

And three old man’s bones
Pulled from the grave.

128

The root of “Ax raineach mhor” (Pteris Aquilina) was considered
a valuable ingredient in love-philtres in olden times. An old Gaelic

bard sings—
“°Twas not the maiden’s matchless beauty
That drew my heart anigh;
Not the fern-root potion
But the glance of her blue eye.”

“Fern seeds were looked upon as magical, and must be gathered
on midsummer eve.”—Scottish and Irish superstition.

LYcoPpoDIACEA
Lycopodium, from Avxos, a wolf, and wots, a foot, from a fan-
cied resemblance to a wolf’s foot.

L. selago—-Fir club-moss. Gaelic: garbhag an t-sltibhe, the:
rough one of the hill. “The Highlanders make use of this plant
instead of alum to fix the colours in dyeing. They also take an
infusion of it as an emetic and cathartic; but it operates violently,
and, unless taken in a small dose, brings on giddiness and con-
vulsions.”——Licutroot. According to De Thtis, ‘“Selago” is.
derived from the Celtic se/ (sealladh), sight, and zach (ioc). Greek:
‘aus, a remedy, being useful for complaints in the eyes.

Badge of Clan Macrae.

L. clavatum, anootinum, and the rest of this family are called
lus @ bhalgaire, the fox-weed. Crotalna madadh ruadh, club-moss.
The name crofa/ is given to this plant on account of its dyeing
properties. Woollen cloths boiled with it become blue when
passed in a bath of Brazil wood. Garbhag nan gleann.

The badge of Clan Munro.

EQUISETACES.

Equisetum, from egwzs, a horse, and sefa, hair, in allusion to:
the fine hair-like branches of the species. Those plants of this.
order growing in watery places are called in Gaelic and Irish, c/o7s,
clo-uisge, the names given to fluviatile, palustre, ramosum; and
those flourishing in drier places, earbul/-eich, horse-tail. Clots
seems a contraction of ¢/0-w7sge (O’Reilly)—c/, a nail-pen or peg,
perhaps suggested by the appearance of the fruitings stems; and
ursge, water. Callagan srob eigh (Threl), or in our Gaelic, cui/e
sruth eich, the horse’s water or stream bristles. Welsh: rhawn
march a fonaw?, the same meaning.

129

E. hyemale—Duich rushes, shave-grass. Gaelic: a’ bdbhiora
—bior, a pointed small stick, anything sharp or prickly.
This species was at one time extensively used for polishing
wood and metal, a quality arising from the cuticle abounding
in siliceous cells—hence the use made of the plant for
scouring pewter and wooden things in the kitchen. A large
quantity used to be imported from Holland, hence the name
“Dutch rushes.” Irish: gadhar, from gad, a withe, a twig.
Liobhag, from “iobh, smooth, polish. It grows in marshy places
and standing water. Cuiridin (O’Reilly), because growing on
marshy ground.

BRYACEA.

Gaelic and Irish: cdimneach, caoineach, from caorn, soft, lowly,
&c. The principal economic use of moss to the ancient Gaels
was in making bed-stuffs, just as the Laplanders use it to this day.

‘© Tri coilceadha na Feinne, barr geal chrann, cdinneach, is tr luachair.”

The three Fenian bed-stuffs—fresh tree-tops, #zoss, and fresh rushes.
“The brushwood was laid next the ground, over it was placed the
moss, and lastly fresh rushes were spread over all. It is these
three materials that are designated in our old romances as the “7
cuilcidha na bh-Fiann—the three beddings of the Fenians.”—
KeatTinc. Welsh: mwswg, moss.

Sphagnum—Bog-moss. Gaelic: mdinteach Kath (mbdin, peat, and
liath, grey). From its roots and decayed stalks peat is formed.
Fionnlach, from fionn, white. It covers wide patches of bog, and
when full grown it is sometimes almost white ; occasionally the
plant has a reddish hue (cocnneach dhearg, red moss). Martin
refers to it in his ‘‘Western Islands:’ ‘‘When they are in any way
fatigued by travel or otherways, they fail not to bathe their feet
in warm water wherein ved moss has been boiled, and rub them
with it on going to bed.” This seems to be the only moss having
a specific name in Gaelic, the rest going by the generic term

Loinneach.
‘*Coinnich uaine mu 'n iomall,

Is iomadach sebdrsa.”—MACINTYRE.

Green moss around the edges,
Many are the kinds.

MARCHANTIACEZ AND LICHENES,
Marchantia polymorpha—Liverwort. Gaelic: dus an dinean,
I

130

the liver-wort. Irish: cudsle aibheach. Welsh: llystar afu—afu,
the liver. (Names derived from its medicinal effects on the liver.)
Irish: duilleog na cruithneachta, the leaf of (many) shapes or
forms. Cruth, form, shape, synonymous with Greek “ polymorpha.”
Manx: lus yn aane.

Peltidea canina—The dog-lichen. Gaelic: lus ghoinnich (from
goin, wound ; gotneach, agonising) This plant was formerly used.
for curing distemper and hydrophobia in dogs. The name
“ gearan, the herb dog’s-ear,” is given in the dictionaries. Pro-
bably this name was applied to this plant, meaning a complaint,.
agroan. Welsh: gevain, to squeak, to cry.

Lecanora— Etymology of this word uncertain (in Celtic, Zeck
or /eac, means a stone, a flag). Greek: A/@os.

L. tartarea—Cudbear. Gaelic and Irish: corcar or corcur,
meaning purple, crimson. Latin: purpura. This lichen was.
extensively used to dye purple and crimson. It is first dried in the
sun, then pulverised and steeped, commonly in urine, and the
vessel made air-tight. In this state it is suffered to remain for
three weeks, when it is fit to be boiled in the yarn which it is to
colour. Formerly, in many Highland districts, the peasants got
their living by scraping off this lichen with an iron hoop, and
sending it to the Glasgow market. MacCodrum alludes to the:
value of this and the next lichen in his line—

‘«Spréigh air mdintich,
Or air chlachan.”
Cattle on the hills,
Gold on the stones.

Parmelia saxatilis and omphalodes—Stone and heath parmelia.
Gaelic and Irish: crofa. These lichens were much used in the
Highlands for dyeing a reddish brown colour, prepared like ¢ar-
zarea. And so much did the Highlanders believe in the virtues.
of crofaZ that, when they were to start on a journey, they sprinkled
it on their hose, as they thought it saved their feet from getting
inflamed during the journey. Welsh: ce di, black head, applied
to the species Omphalodes.

Sticta pulmonacea (Pu/monaria of Lightfoot)—Lungwort lichen.
Scotch: Aazefraw. Gaelic and Irish: crotad coille (“‘coille” of the
wood), upon the trunks of trees in shady woods. It was used

131

among Celtic tribes as a cure for lung diseases, and is still used by
Highland old women in their ointments and potions.

According to Shaw, the term gv7m was applied as a general term
for lichens growing on stones. Grtoman (Macbain). Martin, in
his description of his journey to Skye, refers to the superstition
“that the natives observe the decrease of the moon for scraping
the scurf from the stones.” The two useful lichens, corcur and
crotal, gave rise to the suggestive proverb—

‘€Ts fhearr a’ chlach gharbh air am faighear rud-eigin, na ’chlach mhin air

nach faighear dad idir.”
Better the rough stone that yields something, than the smooth stone that

yields nothing.
FUNGI.

Agaricus—The mushroom. Irish and Gaelic dictionaries give
agairg for mushroom. fas na heanaich (Threl) In our Gaelic
Jas na h-aon oidhche, one night’s growth. Welsh: cu//od. Manx:
shalmane.

A. campestris— Balg bhuachaill (balg is an ancient Celtic word,
and in most languages has the same signification—viz., a bag,
wallet, pock, &c. (Greek, PBodAyés; Latin, dulga; Saxon, belg;
German, éalg), buachaill, a shepherd. alg losgainn (losgann, a
frog, and in some places balg bhuachair—buachar, dung), Leirin
sugach. In Aberfeldy A. campestris is called boinetd smachain
(Dr. Hugh Macmillan).

Boletus bovinus—Brown boletus. Gaelic and Irish: Jdorneid
na losgainn, the toad’s bonnet; and also applied to other species
of this genus.

Tuber cibarium—Truffle. algan losgainn, the bag of the toad.
These are subterraneous ball-like bodies, something like potatoes,
found in beech-woods in Glen Lyon; and probably applied to
other species as well.

Lycopérdon giganteum—tThe large fuz-ball or devil’s snuff-box.
Gaelic and Irish: deac, deacan, from beach, a bee. Balg-dubh,
black bag, dallan-nan-caorach, the sheep-blinder, applied also to
L. gemmatum. This mushroom or puff-ball was used formerly
(and is yet) for smothering bees; it grows to a large size, some-
times even two or three feet in circumference. Z+toman (O'Reilly).

L, gemmatum—The puff-ball, fuz-ball. Gaelic and Irish:

132

caochag, from caoch (Latin, cecus), blind, empty, blasting. It is a
common idea that its dusty spores cause blindness. Balg smiid,
the smoke-bag ; daly séididh, the puffbag. alg petteach, bocan,
or bvcan-bearrach (bocan, a hobgoblin, a sprite, and Jdearr,
brief, short), and do/neid na losgainn, are frequently applied to all
the mushrooms, puffballs, and the whole family of the larger
fungi.

Polyporus.—The various forms of cork-like fungi growing on
trees are called cdise (Irish), meaning cheese, and in Gaelic spuing
or (Irish) spuinc, sponge, from their porous spongy character.

P. fomentarius and betulinus—Soft tinder. Gaelic: caz//each
spuinge, the spongy old woman,—a corruption of the Irish
caisleach spuinc, soft, cheese-like sponge. It is much used still by
Highland shepherds for making amadou or tinder, and for
sharpening razors.

Mucedo—Moulds. Gaelic: cloimh ath, grey down. Mildew,
mtl-cheo. Irish caothruadh (O'Reilly).

Mushrooms bear a conspicuous part in Celtic mythology from
their connection with the fairies,—they formed the tables for their
merry feasts. Fairy rings (AZarasmius oreades, other species of
Agarici) were unaccountable to our Celtic ancestors save by the
agency of supernatural beings.

ALG&.

The generic names assigned to sea-weeds in Gaelic are:
Jeamainn (feam, a tail); ¢railleach (MacAlpine), (from /rdigh,
shore, sands); éarra-rochd (barr, a crop), roc. Greek: pwé.
French: roche, a rock. Welsh: gwymon, sea-weed. French:
varec, from Sanscrit, dfarc, through the Danish vrag. All the
olive-coloured sea-weeds go by the general name feamainn bhuidhe ;
the dark green, feamainn dubh,; and the red, feamainn dears.

Sea-ware the badge of the MacNeils.

The inhabitants of the Isle of Lewis had an ancient custom of
sacrificing to a sea god called “Shony” at Hallowtide. The
inhabitants round the island came to the church of St. Mulvay,
each person having provisions with him. One of their number
was selected to wade into the sea up to the middle, and carrying
a cup of ale in his hand, standing still in that position, crying out
with a loud voice, “‘Shony, I give you this cup of ale, hoping you

133

will be so kind as to send.us plenty of sea-ware for enriching our
ground the ensuing year.” And he then threw the cup into the
sea. This was performed in the night-time; they afterwards
returned to spend the night in dancing and singing.

Shony (Sjoni) the Scandinavian Neptune. This offering was a
relic of pagan worship introduced into the Western Isles by the
Norwegians when they conquered and ruled over these islands
centuries ago (see footnote, p. 55).

Fucus vesiculosus—Sea-ware, kelp-ware, black tang, lady-wrack.
Gaelic: propach, sometimes pradblach, tangled; in some places
grdbach, grob, to dig, to grub.

This fucus forms a considerable part of the winter supply of
food for cattle, sheep, and deer. In the Hebrides cheeses are
dried without salt, but are covered with the ashes of this plant,
which abounds in salt. It was also used as a medicinal charm.
“Tf, after a fever, one chanced to be taken ill of a stitch, they
(the inhabitants of Jura) take a quantity of /ady-wrack and red fog
and boil them in water; the patients sit upon the vessel and receive
the fume, which by experience they find effectual against the dis-
temper.”—Martin’s “ Western Isles.”

F, nodosus—Knobbed sea-weed. Gaelic: feamainn bholgainn,
buileeach,—bolg, butlg, a sack, a bag, from the vesicles that serve to
buoy up the plant amidst the waves. Ftamainn bhutdhe, the
yellow wrack. It is of an olive-green colour; the receptacles are
yellow.

F. serratus—-Serrated sea-weed. Gaelic: feamainn dubh, black
wrack. Aon chasach, one-stemmed, applies to this plant when
single in growth.

F. canaliculatus—Channelled fucus. Gaelic: feamainn chirein.
This plant is a favourite food for cattle, and farmers give it to
counteract the injurious effects of sapless food, such as old straw
and hay.

Laminaria digitata—Sea-girdles, tangle. Gaelic and Irish:
stamh, slat-mhara, sea-wand. Duidhean, dotrean in Lismore, the
haghag or leathagan, barr stamh, and bragair, names given to the
broad leaves on the top. Doire (in Skye and Islay), tangle.
Though not so much used for food as formerly, it is still chewed
by the Highlanders when tobacco becomes scarce. It was thought
to be an effectual remedy against scorbutic and glandular diseases,

134

even long before it was known to contain iodine. “A rod about
four, six, or eight feet long, having at the end a blade slit into
seven or eight pieces, and about a foot and a half long. I had an
account of a young man who lost his appetite and had taken pills
to no purpose, and being advised to boil the blade of the Alga,
and drink the infusion boiled with butter, was restored to his
former state of health.”—-Martin’s “ Western Isles.” By far the
most important use to which this plant and the other fuci have
been put was the formation of kelp ; much employment and profit
were derived from its manufacture: ¢.g., in 1812 in the island of
North Uist, the clear profit from the proceeds of kelp amounted
to £14,000; but the alteration of the law regarding the duty on
barilla reduced the value to almost a profitless remuneration of
only 43500, and now the industry is all but extinct.

L. saccharina—Sweet tangle, sea-belt. Gaelic: smeartan (smear,
greasy). The Rev. Mr. MacPhail gives this name to “‘one of the
red sea-weeds.” Other correspondents give it to this plant.
Milfhearach (O’Donovan).—Sweet tangle, “a marine weed with a
sweet root.” But the name seems the same as A@z/earach, already
mentioned, only it has not a “sweet root” like the sea weed.

L. bulbosa—Sea furbelows, bulbous-rooted tangle. Gaelic:
sgrothach. This name is doubtful (s¢vo¢h, pimples, postules).

Alaria esculenta—Badderlocks, hen-ware (which may be a
contraction of honey-ware, the name by which it is known in the
Orkney Islands). Gaelic: mircean (one correspondent gives this
name to “a red sea-weed”), seemingly the same as the Norse
name Maria kjerne,—Maéri, Mary, and kyerne is our word kernel,
and has a like meaning. In Gaelic and Irish dictionaries,
muirirean (Armstrong), muiririn (O'Reilly), “a species of edible
alga, with long stalks and long narrow leaves.” -SHaw. In some
parts of Ireland, Dr. Drummond says, it is called murlins—
probably a corruption of mutririn, mutrichlinn, muirlinn
(MacAlpine), (from muir, mara, the sea). Manx: mootrlane.
It is known in some parts of Ireland by the name sfarain or
Sporain, purses, because the pinnated leaflets are thought to
resemble the Highlander’s storan. Gruaigean (in Skye).

Rhodymenia palmata—Dulse. Gaelic and Irish: ducleasg,
from duill/e, a leaf, and uésge, water—the water-leaf. The High-

135

landers and Irish still use dui/easg, and consider it wholesome
when eaten fresh. Before tobacco became common, they used to
prepare dulse by first washing it in fresh water, then drying it in
the sun: it was then rolled up fit for chewing. It was also used
medicinally to promote perspiration. ithreach, dulse. Duzleasg
staimhe (staimh, Laminaria digitata). It grows frequently on the
stems of that fucus. Dwzleasg, chloiche—i.e., on the stones, the
stone dulse. Duileasg is also given to Laurentia pinnatifida,
formerly eaten under the name of pepper dulse. Cvreantardh
({O’Don) in Donegal.

Porphyra laciniata—Laver, sloke. Gaelic and Irish: s/oucan,
slochdan, from sloc, a pool or slake. Slabhcean (in Lewis),
slibhagan (Shaw). Lightfoot mentions that “the inhabitants of
the Western Islands gather it in the month of March, and after
pounding and stewing it with a little water, eat it with pepper,
and vinegar, butter; others stew it with leeks and onions.

Ulva latissima—Green ulva. Gaelic: g/asag, also applied to
other edible sea-weeds. In some places in the Western Highlands
the names given to laver are also given to this plant. G/asag,
from gdas, blue, or green.

Palmella montana (Ag.)—Lightfoot describes, in his “ Flora
Scotica,” a plant which he calls Ufa montana, and gives it the
Gaelic name duileasg nam beann—i.e., the mountain dulse. This
plant is Gloeocapsa magma (Kutzing). Protococcus magma (Bre-
bisson, Alg. Fallais). Sorospora montana (Hassall). Lightfoot
was doubtless indebted to Martin (whose “Western Isles”
furnished him with many of his useful notes on the uses of plants
among the Highlanders) for the information respecting’ such a
plant. Martin describes it thus: “There is seen about the houses
of Bernera, for the space of a mile, a soft substance resembling
the sea-plant called s/ake [meaning here Uva /atissima], and grows
very thick among the grass; the natives say it is the product of a
dry hot soil; it grows likewise on the tops of several hills in the
island of Harris.” “It abounds in all mountainous regions as a
spreading crustaceous thing on damp rocks, usually blackish-
looking ; but where it is thin the purplish nucleus shines through,
giving it a brighter aspect.”-Rovy.

Chondrus crispus—lIrish moss, known in the Western High-
lands by the Irish name am cairgein, as the chief supply used to

136

come from Carrageen in Ireland. At one time it was in much
reputé, for from it was manufactured a gelatinous easily digested
food for invalids, which used to sell for 2s. 6d. per lb. AZathair
an duilisg, the mother of the dulse, as if the dulse had sprung
from it.

Killeen is the usual Irish name for the Irish moss (“ Gardening
Illustrated,” page 304).

Corallina officinalis.—Gaelic: coiveall (MacAlpine). Latin:.
corallium, coral. Linean. It was used as a vermifuge.

Polysiphonia fastigiata. A tuft of this sea-weed was sent to me
with the Gaelic name Fraoch mara, sea-heather, written thereon.

Hemanthalia lorea.—The cup-shaped frond from which the long:
thongs spring is called azomlach, or tomlach (tomlag, the navel),
from the resemblance of the cup-shaped disc to the navel. Dr.
Neill mentions that in the north of Scotland a kind of sauce for
fish or fowl, resembling ketchup, is made from the cup-like
or fungus-like fronds of this sea-weed.

Halydris siliquosa,—Gaelic: voineach mhara, the seafern. (In
the Isle of Skye).

Chorda filum—Sea-laces. In Shetland Lucky Minny’s lines ;
Ayrshire, dead men’s ropes. Gaelic: gil/e mu lunn,—gille, a
young man, a servant ; /eun, a wave. Lightfoot mentions that
the stalks acquire such toughness as to be used for fishing lines,
and they were probably also used in the manufacture of nets. At
all events it is a great obstacle when trawling with nets, as it forms.
extensive sea-meadows of long cords floating in every direction.
In some parts /angadair is given to a “sea-weed, by far the longest
one.” This one is frequently from twenty to forty feet in length.
Driamlaichean, fishing lines.

Sargassum vulgare (or bacciferum)—Sea-grapes. Gaelic: ¢dr-
usgar (sometimes written /vusgar, from trus, gather), from ¢urus,
a journey. This weed is frequently washed by the Gulf Stream
across the great Atlantic, with beans, nuts, and seeds, and cast
upon the western shores. These are carefully gathered, preserved,
and often worn as charms. They are called uibhean stthein, fairy
eggs, and it is believed that they will ward off evil-disposed fairies.
The nuts are called cnothan-spuinge, and most frequently are
Dolchas urens and Mimosa scandens. To Callithamnion Plocamium,

137

&c., and various small red sea-weeds, such as adorn ladies’ albums,
the Gaelic name smdcan is applied.

Confervee, such as Exteromorpha and Cladophora. Gaelic and
Trish: Hanach or linnearach (tinne, a pool). Martin describes a
plant under the name of Anarich—a very thin, small, green
plant, about eight, ten, or twelve inches in length; it grows on
stones, shells, and on the bare sands. This plant is applied
plasterwise to the forehead and temples to procure sleep for
such as have a fever, and they say it is effectual for the purpose.”
—Martin’s “Hebrides.” Barraig uaine, the green scum on
stagnant water. Feur-uisge, water-grass. Feur-lochain. Griobhars-
gaich, the green scum on water.

“ Tha uisge sruth na dige
Na shruthladh dubh gun sioladh
Le barraig uaine, liath-ghlas,
Gu mi-bhlasda grannd,
Féur lochan is tachair
An cinn an duilleag bhaite.”—MAacINTYRE.

The waiter in its channel flows,
A dirty stagnant stream,

And algze green, like filthy cream,
Its surface only shows.

With water-grass, a choking mass,
The water-lily grows.

NOTES.

Page 2.

Ranunculus flammula—G/as /eun, spear wort. Grows near the
margins of lakes and boggy places. Its stalks are procumbent at
the base, but branch directly. Its leaves are somewhat narrow
and spear-like, but vary according to habitat. The flowers are
yellow, but smaller than most of the buttercups. It is very acrid
and caustic, therefore used for raising blisters. According to
the Lrish Journal, “Cam an ime” —buttercup. “ Seamair
Mhuire” is also in some places given to the buttercup, but
O’Reilly and others apply it to the yellow pimpernel (see p. 81).

Page 5.

Chelidonium majus—Common celandine. Aonsgoch—lus y
ghollan gheayee (Manx). The large celandine. These names,
meaning the swallow herb, “because (as Plinie writeth) it was
found out by swallows, and hath healed the eyes and restored
sight to their young ones, that have had harme in their eyes or
have bene blinde.”—Lyte.

Page 6.

Capsella bursa-pastoris—Shepherd’s purse. Clappede-pouch. A
mongrel name given in some parts of Ireland to the shepherd’s
purse. Dr. Prior says the name was given to the plant in allusion
to the licensed begging of lepers, who stood at crossways with a
bell and clapper, by which they called the attention of the
passers-by, and receive their alms in a cup, at the end of a long
pole. These “rattle pouches” suggested the name to the plant,
on account of the little purses it hangs out at the wayside. The
seed vessels are like little pouches or purses.

Page 7.

Armoracia rusticana—Horse radish. Rdcadal. There is a
great similarity between this Gaelic name and the Saxon and
Scottish names. Turner has the following :—‘ This kind groweth
in Morpeth, Northumberland, and there it is called Redco. It
should be called after the old Saxon Englishe Rettihcol, that is
Radishe colle.” Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary has Redcoal and
kedcoll.

139

Page 7.

Nasturtium officinalis (Biolarr)— Water cress. Though
unquestionably a Celtic name, yet we find it mentioned in a
curious treatise on the nature and properties of plants by Roy:—
“Billura, an herb that we clepeth Bil/ure. . . . Some name
it yellow water cresses.” The name has been corrupted to Bellers
and Bilders, The Gaelic name for the winter cress is Zreabhach
(O'Reilly).

Page 9.

Charlock—Marag bhuidhe, praiseach garbh. In some parts of
Treland the old name Praiseach (Latin, Brassica), is corrupted to
Presha, presha bhkwee. ‘Threlkeld gives it as Prazsseagh-buigh, also
Prassia is given. “The growing oat crop struggles with the
perennial thistle, dock, and prassta.”—‘Pictures from Ireland.’
(Macgrath).

Page 20.

Trifolium—Clover. Seamrag—Shamrock. Botanists have long
disputed what plant furnished the Saint with so excellent an
illustration of the Trinity. The Dutch clover (Z7ifolium repens)
and the Black non-such (Afedicago lupulina) are most commonly
used. But the wood sorrel (Oxalis acelosella) was called Seamrag
by old herbalists, and was eaten and called Souvag, the sour one.
It is trifoliated, growing in woods where the priests taught their
mystic rights. Queen Victoria placed the Samrog in her royal
diadem in lieu of the French Fleur-de-lis, The four-leaved
shamrock was supposed to possess many virtues.

‘*Seamrag nan duillean ’s nam buadh,

Bu chaomh leam thu bhi fo m’ chluasaig,
Nam dhomh cadal ’n am shuain.”

Shamrock of leaves and virtues,
I would wish you to be under my pillow
On my falling asleep.

Page 26.

Potentilla tormentilla—Zar-braonan-nan-con. Is one of the
‘commonest of our moorland flowers. It is perennial, and its
small yellow flower seems to follow one everywhere. In some
places the name damhnach is corrupted to /eanartach for that
reason. The root of the plant is the part used as an astringent,
and contains the tanning principle equal in quality to the oak bark.

T40

Page 28.

Rubus fruticosus (Bramble)—Grian-mhuine. In Scotland it is-
thought that late in the autumn the devil covers the bushes with
his cloak, and renders them unwholesome. In Ireland children
are told that the devil put his foot on the blackberries, and not to
eat them after Michaelmas. According to another legend, Honor
Garrigan, one Sunday during St. Patrick’s lifetime rode up the hill
to church; but, seeing a bunch of ripe blackberries, she dis-
mounted in order to gather them. Her servant told her it was.
wicked to eat anything before receiving the Holy Communion,
but in vain, his mistress ate the blackberries, which caused her
hunger so to increase that she ate the boy and the horse. Saint
Patrick shot her with his bow and arrow for fear she would eat all
the congregation!

Page 31.

Pyrus—Apple. Udhal. There are many references to the
apple in Celtic legends. The Celtic “Isle of the Blest,” the
“Fair Avalon,” the ‘Isle of Apples,” a Gaelic legend which
asserts the claims of an island in Loch Awe to be identified as the
Isle of the Blest,” changes the mystic apples into the fruit of
Pyrus cordata, a species of wild pear, indigenous both to the
Scotch island and to Arguilon.—Folkard’s Plant Legends. See
Pyrus aucuparia and the note Caorrunn.

J. F. Campbell, in his introduction to his “West Highland
Tales,” points out that when the hero wishes to pass from Islay to
Treland, he pulls out sixteen apples and throws them into the sea,
one after another, and he steps from one to the other. When the
giant’s daughter runs away with the king’s son, she cuts an apple
into a number of small bits, and each bit talks. _ When she kills
the giant, she puts an apple under the hoof of the magic filly and
he dies, for his life is the apple, and he is crushed. There is a
Gruagach who has a golden apple which is thrown at all comers,
who, if they fail to catch it, die. When it is caught and thrown
back by the hero, Grugach an Ubhail dies. There is a certain
game called Cluich an Ubhail—the apple play—which seems to-
have been a deadly game. In all the Gaelic legends the apple,
when introduced, has something marvellous about it.

Page 32.
Pyrus aucuparia (Rowan tree)—Caorrunn. According to the

I4I

Gaelic legend, the “Pursuit of Diarmud and Grainne,” there grew
the wonderful quicken tree of Dubhrés, which bore some won-
derful berries. Every berry has the exhilaration of. wine, and
whoever shall eat three berries of them, even if he be a hundred
years, he will return to the age of thirty. These berries were
jealously guarded by one Searbhan Lochlannach, “a giant, hideous
and foul to behold.” He was slain by Diarmud, and the berries
placed at the disposal of his wife, Grainne.

Page 56.

Senecio vulgaris—Am dualan. Groundsel. A very common
weed in waste places. Somewhat like the dandelion, not exceed-
ing 12 inches high, bright green, much divided and serated leaves,
and whiteish below. The flowers are in small clusters of yellow
colour, succeeded by small seeds furnished with downy pappus.
‘The leaves were used as an emetic, and applied externally as a
cooler, and to bring on suppurations.

Page 60.

Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)—Zarr thalmhuinn. In Aber-
deenshire the earr is corrupted to Heer or erie. Lassies used to
take it and put it in their breasts as a charm, repeating this rhyme—

Eerie, eerie, I do pluck,

And in my bosom I do put,

The first young lad that speaks to me,

The same shall my true lover be.
Page 67.

Gentiana campestris (Zus a’ chritbain)—Field gentian. This
plant is found on elevated grounds in most districts of the
Grampians. It stalk is unbranched and jointed, from which
issue in pairs oblong pointed leaves. The flower is white pale
yellow, and often of a purplish colour. It blooms in the summer,
The various species of gentian are well known in medicine, and
used by brewers and wine merchants.

Page 85.

Ur (Bay or Palm tree)—Dodmhnach an Vir. The Lord’s day
of the palm. The true palm not being a native, the catkins of
the willow have been used in the northern counties in church
processions on Palm Sunday, and frequently /wbhar (the yew),
hence it is often called a palm in Ireland.

142

Page ror.

Taxus baccata (The Yew)—Judhar, In the very ancient tale of
“ Bailé Mac Buain,” said to be as old as the time of Cormac Mac
Art (212 B.c.), reference is made to the yew tree of Bazlé (“Jbar
Bailé”) and the apple of noble Azddin (“Aball Aillini arda”’).
The lady Aillin was killed whilst trying to make an appointment
with her lover Baz/é. The news of her tragic death so affected
him that he suddenly died, and from his grave there sprung up a
yew tree, having the form of Baz/é’s head on the top. The belief
in the miraculous seems to be very ancient. The Greeks and
Scandinavians traced the origin of the human race to the ash, and
the Romans to the oak. Pope Pius II., in his work on Asia and
Europe in the fifteenth century, states that in Scotland there grew
on the banks of a river a tree that produced fruits resembling
ducks, and when they fell into the water became turned into
ducks. Gerarde describes and figures the famous “Barnacle tree,

or the tree-bearing geese.”
Page 102.

Orchis maculata (Spotted Orchis)—Urach bhallach. This isa
very common plant in the Highlands, on moors and hilly pastures.
The leaves are spotted with purple spots, and the tradition is it
and the spotted ersicaria were growing on Calvary, hence were
stained with the precious blood of Christ. In Cheshire it is called
“Gethsemane.” “In some parts of the north (Aberdeenshire) the
rustics believe that if you take the proper half of the root of the
orchis and get any one of the opposite sex to eat it, it will produce
a powerful affection for you, while the other half will produce as
strong an aversion.” This is probably the plant mentioned in a
Highland incantation as ‘“Gradh is fuath” (love and hate). See
Mr. Mackenzie’s “Gaelic Incantations and Charms,” page 13.
Old English name, ‘“Lover’s Wanton.”

Page 117.

Phragmites.—This stately reed is pretty common on the shores
of lakes, rivers, &c. It grows frequently to the height of seven or
eight feet, or even more. Its stems are frequently used for pipe
reeds, hence its Irish name. The ‘bull rush” or “reed mace
was frequently given as the badge of Clan Mackay, but that it was
the plant used is most unlikely, because it is very scarce in their
country. From communications received from some influential

143

members of the Clan, there is no question but that this handsome
reed or cue is the
Badge of Clan Mackay.

K’EoGH AND THRELKELD’s Works.—The Rev. John K’Eogh
wrote a work on the plants of Ireland “Botanalogica Universalis
Hibernia,” and another on the animals, ‘Zoologica Medicinalis
Hibernia,” about the year 1739, giving the Irish names as pro-
nounced by the peasantry at that period. Threlkeld’s “Synopsis
Stirpium Hibernicarum” appeared in 1728. They are now rare
works, and are of no value save for the names, for they contain no
information except the supposed medicinal virtues of the plants
and animals given in them.

All creatures, from the biggest mammal to the meanest worm,
and all plants, were supposed to have some potent charm or virtue
to cure disease. A large number of prescriptions are compounds
of the most disgusting ingredients. We can only now smile at
the credulity that would lead any one to imagine that by merely
looking at the yellow hammer (Lmberiza cttrinella) “by any one
who has the jaundice, the person is cured, but the bird will die.”
Or that “the eyes drawn entire out of the head of a hare taken in
March, and dried with pepper, and worn by women, will facilitate
childbirth.”

He gives this singular cure for the jaundice. “A live moth,
laid on the navel till it dies, is an excellent remedy! Nine grains
of wheat, taken up by a flea, are esteemed good to cure a chin-
cough—that insect is banished and destroyed by elder leaves,
flowers of pennyroyal, rue, mint, and fleabane, celandine, arsmart,
mustard, brambles, lupin, and fern-root.” For worms—* Take
purslane seeds, coralina, and St. John’s wort, of each an equal
part; boil them in spring water. Or take of the waters of Azera
picra (Picris hieraciotdes), of the seeds of the bitter apple, of each
one dram, mixed with the oil of rue and savin, spread on leather,
and apply it to the navel; this is an approved remedy.” Epilepsy—
“The flesh of the moor hen, with rosemary, lemons, lavender, and
juniper berries, will cure it.” And for children—“ Take a whelp
(cullane), a black sucking puppy (but a bitch whelp for a girl),
strangle it, open it, and take out the gall, and give it to the child,
and it will cure the falling sickness.” One more example will
sufficiently illustrate the value of these books. ‘’Usnea capitis

144

humani, or the moss growing on a skull that is exposed to the air,
is a very good astringent, and stops bleeding if applied to the
parts, or even held in the hand.”

Ollamh.—This was the highest degree, in the ancient Gaelic
system of learning, and before universities were established,
included the study of law, medicine, poetry, classics, &c. A
succession of such an order of 4Zerati, the Beatons, existed in
Mull, Islay, and Skye from time immemorial, until after the middle
of last century.

By the courtesy of Professor Mackinnon, the author is per-
mitted to give the substance of his lecture before the Celtic Class
in Edinburgh. The valuable information therein given accounts
for the wide diffusion of the knowledge of simples and how they
were obtained among the population long ago.

Professor Mackinnon, in delivering his opening lecture in connection with
the Celtic Class at Edinburgh University, after observing that the Gaels, like
other nations, credited their heroes with a knowledge of the healing art, stated
that among the medieval Gaels, both in Ireland and the Western Highlands,
there were regular practitioners who devoted themselves to their profession,
and who left behind them a mass of literature—a remnant of which was still
preserved in Dublin, London, Oxford, and Edinburgh. Dr. Moore, of
London, described some twenty years ago eight medical MSS. which belong
to the British Museum. He found that they were translations or versions of
the principal medical works of antiquity and the middle ages, of Galen, Hippo-
crates, Bernard Gordon, and others. The Scottish collection is peculiarly rich
in MSS. of this class, about one-third of the sixty-five catalogued MSS. being
medical or quasi-medical in whole or in part. There were, besides, a valuable
MS. in the library of the Antiquarian Society, another in the University
Library, and three in the Professor's own possession (these last and the
University MS. were shown in the class-room). After giving a brief description
of them as a whole, particular attention was drawn to the MS. in the Society
of Antiquaries’ Library, being a Gaelic translation of Bernard Gordon’s Lilium
Medicne, presented to the Society in 1784 by the Rev. Donald Macqueen, of
Kilmuir, Skye. A memorandum on the fly-leaf stated that the volume was at
one time the property of Farquhar Bethune, of Husabost, who valued it so
highly that while he went himself by boat to Dunvegan Castle, he sent horse
and man by road with the Zi/ium, to ensure its greater safety. Attention was
also drawn to MS. IV., Advocates’ Library collection, a tiny vellum, fastened
with thong and button. In that volume the position of medicine in relation on
the one hand to divinity and philosophy, on the other to physics, astronomy,
and astrology, is set forth. One of the Professor’s own volumes is a most
valuable pharmacopceia—a list of trees and plants in alphabetical order, with
the therapeutic properties of each. The authors, or rather translators and
transcribers of these documents, were chiefly » family or two families, who

145

flourished as physicians in Islay, Mull, and Skye for many generations. By
piecing together notices in records aud charters, inscriptions, tradition which
seem well founded, genevlogical tables in the University Library MS., and a
printed history and genealogy of the Bethunes of Skye, a condensed account of
these remarkable men was given. Beath came from Ireland, tradition says, in
the train of Widow O’Neill, who married Angus Og of the Isles, the friend of
Bruce. Macdonald, who kept up an organised administration in Islay,
appointed this man, or one of his descendants, chief physician of the Isles,
endowed the office handsomely, and established it in his family. In the
beginning of the seventeenth century, Campbell of Cawdor got possession of
Islay. Fergus Macbeth was at the time chief physician of the Isles. He
obtained a Crown charter from King James VI. confirming him in the office for
life, and in the lands pertaining to the office hereditarily as they were held by
his ancestors ‘beyond the memory of man.” This valuable document is
preserved among the Argyll papers, and is to be printed for the first time in
the valuable ‘Book of Islay,” about to be published under the editorship of
Mr. Gregory Smith, of the University. A Farchard ‘‘ Leche,” who received
a grant of the lands of Melness and Hope in Sutherland from the Wolf of
Badenoch, and of all the islands from Rhue Stoer in Assynt to Armadale Head
in Farr, from King Robert II., was, it appears, a distinguished member of the
Islay Macbeths. A branch of the family settled in Mull as physicians to
Maclean of Duart. The tomb of Dr. John Beaton, who died in 1657, is in
Iona. It was erected by Donald Beaton in 1674, as the Latin inscription
bears. The Skye Bethunes claim descent from Bethune of Balfour, in Fife, the
uncle of Cardinal Beaton. Their history was written in 1778 by the Rev.
Thomas White, of Liberton, who married a lady of the family. The Bethunes
figure largely as clergymen, soldiers, tacksmen, and especially doctors, in Skye
and neighbourhood, for the last 300 years. Little is known of where these
men received their professional education, where they got their medicines, and
how they prepared them. It would seem that for the most part they were
educated at home, and, if tradition may be relied upon, that they largely culti-
vated medicinal plants, and made up their drugs mainly from these. No
scientific value attaches, of course, to these documents now; but considerable
historical and literary interest is claimed for them and their authors. To the
teaching of this remarkable race of men is probably due the wide diffusion of
a knowledge of simples among the people of the Isles—not to speak of the
charms and incantations with which the application of the salves used to be
accompanied. It was pointed out that the belief was universal in the southern
Isles that consumption was not only hereditary but infectious—a dogma learned
from Hippocrates by these Macbeaths, with whose writings they were well
acquainted, and very probably transmitted through them to the inhabitants of
Islay and Mull. The Professor concluded by observing that the life and
labours of these distinguished men formed a pleasing and valuable chapter,
still to be written in the history of the Hebrides, while the fact—which King
James IV.’s charter puts beyond question—that the Government of the Isles
under the Macdonalds charged itself with a care of the public health, adds not
a little to the credit of that princely house.
K

146

MepicinaL PLants.—The common belief that a plant grew
not far from the locality where the disease prevailed that would
cure that disease, led to many experiments which ultimately
resulted in finding out the undoubted virtues of many plants; but
wholesale methods were frequently adopted by gathering all the
herbs, or as many as possible, in that particular district, and
making them into a bath.

At the battle of ““Magh Tuireadh,” we are informed ‘that the
chief physician prepared a healing bath or fountain with the
essences of the principal herbs and plants of Erinn, gathered
chiefly in Zws-AZagh, or the Plain of Herbs; and on this bath they
continued to pronounce incantations during the battle. Such of
the men as happened to be wounded in the fight were immediately
plunged into the bath, and they were instantly refreshed, and
made whole, so that they were able to return and fight against the
enemy again and again.”——Professor O’CurRY.

INCANTATIONS WITH PLANTs.—Cures by incantations were most
common. A large number of plants were thus employed. When
John Roy Stewart sprained his ankle, when hiding after the battle
of Culloden, he said :—

‘*Ni mi’n Ubhaidh rinn Peadar do Phal,
’S a luighean air fas leum bruaich,
Seachd paidir n’ ainm sagairt is Pap
Ga chuir ris na phlasd mu’n cuairt.”
T’ll make the incantation that Peter made for Paul,
With the herbs that grew on the ground.
Seven paternosters in the name of priest and Pope,
Applied like a plaster around.
“And if the dislocated joints did not at once jump into their
proper places during the recitation, the practitioner never failed
to augur favourably of the comfort to the patient. There were
similar incantations for all the ills that flesh is heir to; the tooth-
ache could not withstand the potency of Highland magic;
dysentery, gout, &c., had all their appropriate remedies in the
never-failing incantations.” -MacKENZzIE. See “Beauties of Gaelic
Poetry,” page 268, where several of the “orations” repeated
as incantations are given. Mr. W. Mackenzie’s “Gaelic Incanta-
tions and Charms” will furnish interesting examples.

PLANTS AND FarRy SUPERSTITIONS.—A large number of plant
names in Gaelic have reference to fairy influence. At births many

147

ceremonies were used to baffle the fairy influence over the child,
otherwise it would be carried off to fairyland. The belief
in fairies, as well as most of these superstitions, are traceable
to the early ages of the British Druids, on whose practices they
are founded. The fox-glove (Aleuran sithe), odhran, the cow-
parsnip, and copagach, the docken, were credited with great power
in breaking the fairy spell; on the other hand, some plants were
supposed to facilitate the fairy spell, and would cause the individual
to be fairy “struck” or duaz/te. The water lily was supposed to
possess this power, hence its names Suail/te and Rabhagach,
meaning beware, warning. Rushes found a place in fairy
mythology. Schenus nigricans (Scimhean) furnished the shaft of
the elf arrows, which were tipped with white flint, and bathed in
the dew that lies on the hemlock.

149

INDEX.

GAELIC NAMES.

Abhal, adhul, 3
Abhran donog, 111
Agairg, 131
Aighnean thalmhuinn, 77
Aigheannach, 53
Aillean, 57

Ailm, gz
Aingealag, 42
Aighban, 89
Ainean, lus an 129
Aire. dircean, 93
Airmeirg, 47
Airneag, 23
Altanach, 86
Aiteil, aitiol, 100
Allas Mhuire, 14
Aloe, 105

Almon, 24

Aoin, 112

Aon chasach, 133
Aon dearc, 105
Aonsgoth, 5, 138
Apricoc, 24

Asair 87
Asparag, 109
Athair liath, 75
Athair thalmhuinn, 60
Athan, 57

Badan measgan, 79
Bainne bo bhuidhe, 81
Bainne (lus a’ bhainne), 79
Bainne gamhnach, 47, 72
Bainne ghabhar, 72
Bainne muic, 50
Bairghin, 2

Baladh chnis, 48

Balg bhuachaill, 131
Balg losgainn, 131

Balg bhuachair, 131
Balg smitid, 132

Balg séididh, 132

Ballan losgainn, 132
Ban, chrann, 15
Barbrag, 4

Barr-guc, 19

Barr-dearg, 82
Barr-braonan-nan-con, 26
Barr cluigeannach, 61
Barr a’ mhilltich, 110
Barra mhislean, 20
Barra rochd, 132

Barrag ruadh, 5
Barra-stamh, 133

Barrag uaine, 137
Bearnan Bride, 50

Beacan, 131
Beachnuadh, 14
Bealuidh, bealaidh, 19
Bealaidh Chataobh, 109
Bealaidh Fhrangach, 19
Bealaidh Shasunnach, 19
Bealaidh (calg), 109
Beathag, lus, 78

Beith, 95

Beith beag, 95

Beith carraigeach, 95
Beith cluasach, 95
Beith dubb chasach, 95
Beathe dubhach, 95
Beathe nam measa, 94
Reilbheag, 5

Beitean, 122

Benedin, 26
Bhracadail, lus, 89
Biodh nan edinean, 17
Biodh an t-Sionaidh, 36
Biatas, biatus, 55, 83
Bile buidhe, 58

Bile cuige, 58

Bileach choigreach, 58
Bileach losgainn, 30
Bileanach, bilearach, 104
Billeog math, 50
Billeog son, 58

Bilur, 81

Biodh a leithid, 10
Biolair, 7

Biolair tragha, 7 i
Biolair Mhuire, 71
Biolair ghriaghain, 7
Bior leacain, 100
Biorag, 12

Bior na bride, 5
Biotas, betis, 83

Blaa yn eail Eoin, 8
Blioch, bliochan, 108
Blioch fochain, 50
Bliosan, 54

Bloinigean garaidh, 83
Bo coinneal (Sauce alone), 8
Bochdan bearrach, 133
Bocsa, 88

Bo dhearc, 64

Bodan, 111, 117

Bodan dubh, 111

Bodan coille, 39
Bodach na cloigin, 72
Bodach gorm, 56
Bodach nan claigionn, 72
Bodach dubh, 83
Bofulan ban, 54

Bog lus, 50, 79
Bog mhuine, 115
Bog luachair, 115
Bog ghioghan, 50
Bog uisge, 103
Bog uinnean, 126
Boineid na losgainn, 131
Boinne fola, 86
Bollan Vreeshey, 83
Bolg lus, 50, 79
Bolgan beic, 73
Bollan feill Eoin, 54
Bonan leane, 15
Borrach, 117, 123
Barraist, 78
Borramotor, 55
Braonan fraoich, 27
Braonan bachlaig, 27, 41
Braonan buachaill, 41
Braban, 120
Breallan leana, 35
Breoillean, 122
Breinean brotbach, 59
Breothan, 121
Breun ubhal, 18
Bricin dubh, 42
Brisgean, 26
Brisglan, 26
Brdbh, 114
Braighleag, 63
Braighleag nan con, 63
Bramasagan, 52
eae Meath. I2z

rog na cubhaig, ro, 80
Brdg braidhe, 113 ia
Bron (craobh bhrin), 89
Brum, 19
Bru-chorach, 113
Buadha, lus nam, 42
Buadhlan buidhe, 57
Buadh ghallan, 57

Buaidh chraobh, na Labhras, 85

Bualan, am, 56
Buafannan, 54
Buafannan buidhe, 58
Buafannan liath, 54
Buafannan na h-easgaran, 57
Bugha, 23

Buidhe mor, 9

Buidhe Bealltainn, 3
Buidheag 2, 58
Buidheag an arbhair, 59
Buidhe na ningean, 88
Buillite, 4, 147

Buinn, 56

Bunglas, 119

Buntata, 69
Bunsag, 97
Buramaide, 55
Burban, 55

Buth muc, 108
Bwoid Saggart, 102
Caba deasain, 50
Cabhain abhain, 4
Cabros, 12

Caineal, 85
Caineab, go
Caineab uisge, 60
Caineal, 85
Cairmeal, 22
Caisleach spunic, 132
Cairteal, 74
Caitean, 92
Caitheamh, lus, 48
Caithne, 64
Calbrus, 37

Cal na mara, 6

Cal colbhairt, 9

Cal cearslach, 9
Cal gruidhean, 9
Cal Phadruig, 37
Calg bhealaidh, 109
Calg bhrudhan, 109
Calameilt, 74
Calltuinn, 94
Caman scarraigh, 5
Cam-bhil, 59

Cam an ime, 138
Camomhil, 59
Camomhil fiadhain, 59
Canach. 115

Caoch nan cearc, 70
Caochran, 15

Caod aslachan Cholum chille, 14
Caogma, 39
Caoimin, 71

Caoirin leana, 49
Caolach, lus, 22
Caol fail, 90

Caol miosachan, 13
Caorrunn, 32, 140
Caorrunn staoin, 101
Caor bad miann, 28
Caor thalmhuinn, 41
Caor fionnag, 88
Caorag leana, 11
Caothruadh, 132
Carbhainn, 41
Carbhaidh, 41
Carnan-chaisil, 37
Cairgein, 135
Carran, 6, 11, 123
Carralt, 44.

Cartal, 74
Carthan curaigh, 49
Carthan arraigh, 49
Carth lair, 27

Cas fa chrann, 47
Cas an uain, 21
Castearbhan nam muc, 5!
Cas maighiche, zo
Casgair, 85
Casachdaighe, 56
Catog, 27

Cathair thalmhuinn, 60
Caubsadan, 78
Cearban, 2

Cearban fedir, 2.
Ceanabhan beag, 78
Ceann ruadh, 5
Ceathramadh-caorach, 84

150

Ceadharlach, 68
Ceir-iocan, 46

Ceis chrainn, 123
Ceosan, 52

Ceud bhileach, 68
Céusaidh, lus chrann, g6
Chengey ny mraane, 97
Cholum-cille lus, 14, 81
Chraois lus a’, 39
Chrom chinn, lus a, 104
Chridh, lus a, 78
Chuimein, lus Mhic, 41
Ciob cheann dubh, 115
Ciochan nan cailleacha marbha,

73
Cirean coilich, 11
Cirean, feamainn, 133
Clachan gadhair, roz
Clambainin lin, 69
Cleiteagan, 52
Cloch bhriseach, 37
Cloch reathneach, 123
Clo-uisge, 128
Cloimh liath, 132
Cluas, lus nan, 37
Cluas an fhéidh, 52
Cluas chaoin, 111
Cluas luch, 12, 50
Cluas liath, 50, 56
Cluain lin, rr
Cluaran, 53
Cluaran deilgneach, 53
Cluaran leana, 53
Cluaran dir, 53
Cluaran liath, 54
Cramh briste, lus nan, 79
Cnapan dubh, 54
Cnaroh lus, 55
Cnaib uisge, 60
Cnd thalmhuinn, 41
Cnothan spuing, 136
Codalian, 5
Cogall, 11
Coindid, coinne, cainnen, 106
Coin rds, 2
Coin Grcieh toni 29
Coin fheur, 120
Coin bhil, 39
Coin bhaiscne, 39
Coinneach, 129
Céinneach dhearg, 129
Coirearan muic, 41
Coireiman, 45
Coirnel, 39
Coire lus a, 45
Coirc, 118
Coirc dubh, 119
Coirc circ, 120

| Coireall, 136

Colag, 9

Colluinn, 94
Columcille, lus, 14, 81
Colg bhealaidh, 109
Coman mionla, 59
Con, cona, 115
Conaire, £1

Conan, 120

Conasg, 19

Contran, 42

Copag, 86

Copag shraide, 87
Copag tuaithil, 52
Copan an driichd, 30
Corcach, go

Corcar, 130

Corcan coille, 11
Corrach shod, 3

Corra meille, 22

Corr-a h’ot, 3
Cor-chopaig, 110
Cosadh dubhadh, 43
Cds uisge, 45

Cosgadh na fola, lus, 60
Costag, 45

Costag a’bhaile gheamhraidh, 45
Cota preasach nigheanan righ, 30
Cotharach, 79

Crann lus, 57

Craobh Abran, 19
Craobh mac fiadh, 125
Cré, lus, 72

Creachlach dearg, 16
Creamh, 57, 67, 107
Creamh garaidh, 107
Creamh nan crag, 107
Creamh muc fiadh, 125
Creamh nam muc fiadh, 125
Crios Chu-chulainn, 25
Critheann, 97

Crith fhéur, 120

Cro, crodh, créch, 104
Crob priachain, 16
Crotal, 130

Crotal coille, 130
Crotal na madadh ruadh, 128
Cromlus, 5

Cruach Phadraig, 82
Cruaidh lus, 60

Cribh eoin, 20

Cribh leomhainn, 30
Cruach luachair, 115
Cruba-leisin, 3

Cruban, lus, 67

Cruban na saona, 28
Cruibin, 20, 64
Cruithneach, 121
Cromagan, 43

Cuach Phadraig, 82
Cruisgiornach, 117
Cucumhar, 89

Cuig bhileach, 27

Cuig mhear Mhuire, 26
Cuig bhileach uisge, 27
Chuige (Bileach), 58
Cuigeal nan losgunn, 102, 112
Cuigeal nam ban sith, x11
Cuilc fheur, 115

Cuilc, 115

Cuilc mhilis, 121

Cuilc chrann, 111
Cuilion, 34, 65
Cuileann tragha, 39
Cuinnse, 33

Cuineag mhighe, 42
Cuirteagan 31

Cuir dris, 29

Cuiseach, 122

Cuiseag bhuidhe, 57
Culurain, 81, 87, 89,
Cunach, 69

Cunieal Mhuire, 70
Cuphair, 99

Curachd na cubhaig, 11, 54
Curachd mhanaich, 3
Curran, 44

Curran earraich, 26
Curran geal, 43

Curran buidhe, 44
Cuiridin ban, 43
Cuiseag, 67

Curcais, 114, 115
Cuthaidh, 111
Cutharlan, 41, 106, 111

Da-bhileach, 102

Dail chuach, 10
Daimisin, 24
Dallan-nan-caorach, 131
Darach, 92

Darach sior-uaine, 93
Dealt ruadh, 10

Dealt lus, 127
Deanndag, 89

Dearc, lus nan, 64
Dearc Fhrangach, 36
Dearc roide, 64
Dearcan fithich, 88
Dearna Mhuire, 30
Deathach thalmhuinn, 5
Deideag, 82
Deilgneach, preas, 4
Deilgneach, cluaran, 53
Deoghlag, 47

Deodha, 70

Detheogha, 70

Deur lus, 127

Dile, 43

Dithean, 58, 122
Dithean, dir, 58
Dobhar, lus, 7

Doire, 133

Donn, lus, 72

Dyeas, dris, 28

Dreas muine, 28

Dreas smear, 29
Driamlaichean, 136
Dreas cubhraidh, 29
Dreimire buidhe, 68
Dreimire muir, 68
Droighionn, duph, 23
Droighionn, geal, 30
Droman, 46

Druman, 46

Druichdin mona, 112
Druidh lus, 46

Dubhan nan caora, 61
Dubhan ceann chosach, 78
Dubhanuidh, 78

Dubh casach, 125
Dubh-fhiodh, 65
Duidhean, 133

Duilleag bhaite, 4
Duilleag bhaite bhuidhe, 4
Duilleag bhan, 4
Duilleag son, mhaith, 51
Duilleag Bhrighid, 51
Duilleag bhraghad, sz
Duilleag na cruithneachta, 130
Duilleag na h-aibhne, 109
Duileasg, 134

Duilseag staimh, 135
Duileasg cloiche, 135
Duileasg nan beann, 135
Dullish far ushtey, tog
Duilliur-feithlean, 47
Duilliur spuing, 56

Duil mhial, 69

Dur, dri, 92

Dur lus, 7
Dur-fheur-fairge, 118
Dun lus, 72

Eabhadh, 97
Eala bhi, 13
Eala bhuidhe, 13

rot

Eallan, lus an, 16
Eanach, 51
Earbull righ, 16
Earbull each, 128
Earnach, 10

0, TOL
Eorna, 119

Faidbhile, 93
Fail chuach, 10
Failtean fionn, 125
Fanaisge, ro
Falcaire, 81
Falluing Mhuire, 30
Farach dubh, 72
Faochag, 67
Farusgag, 54
Fathan, 56
Faighleadh, 38
Fead, 113
Feada coille, 17
Feleastar, 104
Fealla bog, 40
Feallair, 40
Feamainn, 34, 132
Feamainn bholgainn, 133
Feamainn bhuidhe, 132
Feamainn dubh, 132
Feamainn dearg, 132
Feamainn chirean, 132
Feanndag, 89
Faran, 107
Fearban, 2
Fearn, 95
Fearra-dhris, 29
Fearsaideag 7
Feith, feithlog, fethlen, 47
Feireag, foireag, eireag, 2
Feoran curraidh, 77
Feneul athach, 44
Feur uisge, 120
Feur gortach, 120
Feur sithein, 120
Feur choinein, 120
Feur chaorach, 121
Feur lochan, 137
Feur a’ phuint, 122
Fhogair, lus an, 86
Fhograidh, lus an, 4, 14
Fiadh roidis, 7
Fiadhain, craobh, 47
Fiacal leomhainn, 51
Eater 2I

ige, fighis, or
Fineal-chumbhthra, 41
Fineal sraide, 43

Fineal Mhuire, 8
Finemhain, foot note, 97
Fiodh thine, 100

Fiodh sheudar, 100
Fiodhag, 24

Fiona, crann, 15
Fionnsgoth, 38
Fionnan geal, 38
Fionnag, lus na, 87
Fionnlach, 129

Fioran, 116

Fiorthan, 116
Fiormann, 121

Fir chrann, 15

Fideag cham, 117
Fithreach, 135

Fleann uisge, 2

Flir a’ Phrionnsa, 69
Flige, 12

Fliodh, 12

Fhodh an tugha, 6
Fliodh mér, 43

Fliodh bhalla, 46
Fochas, 13

Foghnan, fothannan, 53
Foghnan beannuichte, 53
Foinne lus, 88

Fola, lus na, 60

Foilt chiabh, 107
Folachdan, 43
Follasgain, 2

Fonndan, 53
Fothannan beannuichte, 53
Fothrés, 5

Fotrum, 72

Fraing, lus na, 59
Fraoch, 61, 62

Fraoch ruinnse, 61
Fraoch Frangach, 61
Fraoch bhadain, 62
Fraoch dearrrsain, 62
Fraoch mara, 136
Fraoch spreadanach, 62
Fraoch Eirionnach, 62
Fraoch Dhaboch, 62
Fraoch geal, 63

Fraoch nam’ Meinnearach, 63
Fualactar, 41
Fualachdtar, 71

Fuath muic, 108

Fuath gorm, 69

Fuath mhadhaidh, 3
Fuile thalmhuinn, 2
Fuinnseag coillie, 32, 61
Fuinnseann, 66
Fuinnseach, 34
Fuinnseagal, 34
Furran, 93

Gabhann, gafann, 70
Gachar, 111
Gainnisg, 116

Gair cean, 2
Gairleach colluid, 8
Gairgean cregach, 43
Gairgean, 106
Gairleag, 106
Gairleach collaid, 8
Gairleag Mhuire, 107
Galluran, 42

Gall pheasair, 21
Gall chné, 18

Gall sheileach, 97
Gall sheilisdear, 116
Gall uinseann, 33

Gallan mér, 56

Gallan greannchair, 56
Gaoicin cuthigh, 111
Garbhag an t-sleibhe, 128
Garbhag garaidh, 75
Garbh lus, 47
Garbhraitheach, 8
Gath, 39

Gath dubh, 77

Gath buidhe, 77

Gath mor, 77

Gaul, 98

Geald ruidhe, 10

Geal sheileach, 98
Gealag lair, 105
Geanais, 24

Geamn chné fhiadhaich, 96
Geur-bhileach, 30
Geur dhearc, 64

Geur neimh, 88

Gille guirmein, so
Gille mu lunn, 136
Giolceach sleibhe, 19
Gilleach a fionn, 67
Giorradan, 67
Giuthas, 99

Giuthas geal, 99
Giuthas Sasunnach, 99
Giuthas Lochlannach, 99
Giuthas uaine, 100
Giuran (Cow parsnip), 44
Ghlinne, lus, 89

Glan ruis, 71

Glas, lus, 6

Glas fheur, 122
Glasag, 135

Glas leun, 138

Glas lann, 36
Glas-tugha, 113
Glaisair coille, 78
Gleéran, 7

Gloiris, 27

Gliineach lusan, 85
Gluineach uisge, 86
Gliineach dearg. 86
Gliineach beag, 86
Gliineach dubh, 86
Gliineach mor, 86
Glitineach teth, 86
Gna-ghorm, lus, 16
Gnabh, luibh, s5
Gobhal luachair, 115
Goin fheur, 122
Goirteag, 31

Gorman, 54

Gorman searradh (Pansy), 44
Gorm dhearc, 29
Gorm liath, 56
Gooneleg (Cornish), 62
Graban, 55

Grabhan dubh, 77
Grabhan ban, 77
Grabhan nan clach, 36
Gradh is fuath, 142
Gr&innseag, 63
Grainnseag dubh, 63
Grain Bigein 2

Gran dubh, lusna, 4o
Gran lachlan, 111
Gran ubhal, 34
Greaban, 25

Greim an Diabhail, 49
Grian rds, 10
Grigleann, 120
Griobharsgaich, 137

152

Grioloigin, 43
Grobais, 13
Groban, 55
Grolla, lusan, 71
Groseag, 36
Gruag Mhuire, z
Grunnasg, 57
Guis, 46
Guannachan spittain, 44
Guirmean, 6
Gurmean, gille, 54

Huath or Uath, 31

Tadh lus, 68

Iadh shlat, 47
Iadh-shlat thalmhuinn, 76
Ibhig, 124

Tallain, 38
Inde-Indeach, gt

Inite, luibh, 50
Ionntag, 89

Ionntag bhan, 77
Ionntag mharbha, 77
Ionntag dhearg, 77
Tonntag Ghreugach, 20
Isop, 76

Iteodha, 40

Iubhar, iuthar, ror, 142
Iubhar thalmhuinn, 100
Iubhar nan creig, 100
Iubhar beinne, 100

Kiunid fea ash chree, 20
Killeen, 136
Keym-Chreest, 68

Labhras, 85
Laoibbhrail, 85

Lach cheann ruadh, 5
Lachan, 117

Lachan nan damh, 113
Lail, 108

Laireag, 99

Lamhad cat leacain, 37
Langa, 63

Langadair, 137
Laoch, lus nan, 36
Laogh, lus nan, 36
Laoibheach, luibh, 11
Lasair leana, 2

Leac, lus an, 71

Leadan, liodan an fhucadair, 46

Leadan liosda, 52
Leamhadh, 13
Leamhnach, 26
Leamhan, 91
Leamhan bog, 94
Leanartach, 26
Leanna, lus an go
Learmann, 114
Lear uinnean, 108
Leasaich, lus an, 48
Leathach bhuidhe, 30
Leicis, 106

Leigis, 106
Leolaicheann, 22
Leum a’ chrann, 47
Leigheis, lus an, 88
Lia, 58

Liathan, 58

Liatus, 50

Liach loghar, 4
Liach roda, 109
Liach Brighide, 109

Liath, lus, 54, 75

Liath gérm, craobh, 66
Liach-lus-roid, 55

Lili, lilidh, ros

Lili bhtidhe an uisge, 4
Lili nan gleann, 10

Lili an lén, 105

Limoin, crann, 33
Linnearach, 137

Lin radharc, 71
Liobhag, 109

Liobhan, 91

Lion, r2

Lion na mnai sith, 12
Lion na h-aibhne, 2
Lionn luibh, 90
Liugair, luibh an, 43
Liagaire, luibh an, 41
Lochal, 70

Lochain, plur an, 6x
Lothal, 70, 75
Luachair, 113

Luachar bog, 113
Luachair coille, 114
Luachair ghobhlach, 115
Luan lus, 127
Lubber-lub, 68

Luibh a’ chait, 55
Luibh loibheach, 11
Luis, 32

Lurachainn, 106

Lus nam ban sith, 73
Lus na Banrigh, 82

Lus nam buadha, 57
Lus bhainne, 11

Lus Bheathaig, 78

Lus a’ bhallaidh, go
Lus bhalgaire, 73, 128
Lus buidhe mér, 9

Lus bhuidhe Bealltuinn, 2
Lus caitheamh, 48

Lus a’ cholamain, 3
Lus nan cam-bbil, 53
Lus caolach, 12. |

Lus na ccnamh briste, 79
Lus nan cluas, 37

Lus a’ choire, 45

Lus a’ chraois, 39

Lus chrann-ceusaidh, 86
Lus a’ chrom-chinn, 104
Lus cré, 71

Lus chosgadh na féla, 60
Lus a’ chridhe, 78

Lus a’ chribain, 67, 141
Lus nan cnapan, 72
Lus a’ chorrain, 125
Lus an eallan, 16

Lus nan gillean dga, 25
Lus.na gineil gorach, 108
Lusan Albannach, 63
Lus-yn-imleigh, 37

Lus an ushtey vio, 3
Lus an earnaich, 10

Lus a’ gharaidh, 37
Lus a’ ghlinre, 89

Lus a’ ghraidh, 83

Lus an t-seann duine, 55
Lus na fionnag, 87

Lus na fola, 6

Lus na Fraing, 59

Lus gné-ghorm, 16

Lus ghoinaich, 130

Lus na h-oidhche, 69
Lus na h-dighe, 35

Lus nan laoch, 36

Lus nan laogh, 36
Lus nan leac, 71
Lus an leasaich, 48
Lus nan mial, 71, 79
Lus midhe, 79
Lus mér, 7
Lus Mhic Cuttin, 41

Lus Mhic righ Bhreatainn, 76
Lus Mhic Raonail, 4

Lus Mharsalidh, 76

Lus na meala, 47

Lus na nathraich, 76

Lus na meall ee 13

Lus nan cnamh, 4

Lus Phara liath, Me

Lus Phara Lisle, 56

Lus na purgaid, 89

Lus a’ phiobair, 76

Lusra na geire Beeb 63
Lus roddagagh, 98

Lus Iheihys, 106

Lus a’ pheubair, 76

Lus na peighinn, 39

Lus phione, 4

Lus an righ, 75

Lus riabhach, 71

Lus roddagach, 98

Lus leth-an- sambraidh, 8
Lus an t-saoidh, 41

Lus nan scorr, 78

Lus siode, 116

Lus an t-siabuinn, 11

Lus an t-sicnich, 83

Lus na sith chainnt, 35, 81
Lus an t-Seann duine, 55
Lus taghta, 102

Lus na tiise, 75

Lus na Sp4ine, 59

Lus a cholamain, 3

Lus a’ cramman co, 54
Lus ny meisht, 70

Mac gunathair gun mhathair, 110)
Mac-an-dogha, 52
Machall uisge, 25
Machall coille, 26
Machall monaidh, 26
Madar, 47

Madar fraoch, 47
Magairlin meirach, 102
Maisteag, 33

Malip, 15

Maloimh, 13

Mann, 121

Maol dhearc, 92
Maothan, 97

Marag bhuidhe, g
Maraich, am, 6

Marbh droighionn, 30
Marbh dhruidh, 20
Mathair an duilisg, 1
Meacan budhe an t- i3tbhe, 88
Meacan dubh fiadhainn, 76
Meacan each, 7

Meacan a’ chruidh, 44
Meacan easa fiorine, 4
Meacan ragaim, 60
Meacan dibh, 79
Meacan an righ, 43
Meazan sleibhe, 3

Meacan tobhach Aubh, 52
Meacan a tathabha, 105
Meacan ruadh, 7
Meal-bhuic, 89

Meala, lus na, 47

153

Meiloigfer coreuir, 120
Meangach, 26
Meanbh pheasair, 117
Meanntas, 74
Mearlag, 125

Meath challtuinn, 55
Meidil, crann, 30
Meilbheag, 5

Meirse, 41

Meithan, 114

Meéir Mhuire, 21
Meuran sith, 72
Meuran nan daoine marbha, 73
Meuran nan cailleacha m4rbha,73
Mharsalaidh, lus, 76
Mial, lus na, 79
Midhe, lus, 79

Mil mheacan, 13
Mileid, 117

Millsean tonaidh, 72
Millteach, milneach, 110
Millteach, uisge, 89
Minon Mhuire, 30
Minbharr, 40
Minmhear, 40

Min fheur, 121
Mionag, 64

Mionnt gharaidh, 74
Mionnt arbhair, 74
Mionnt each, 74
Mionnt fiadhain, 74
Mionnt coille, 74
Mionntas chaisill, go
onl 12

Miortal,

Miothag Ghuidie, 69
Mircean, 134
Mircean nam magh, 30
Mirr, 45

Mislean, 117
Mislean uisge, 120
Misimean dearg, 74
Méan, 79

Modbalan dearg, 71
Modhalan buidhe, 72
Moin fheur, 123
Mointeach liath, 123
Mongach mhear, 40
Mongash measga, 54
Modnog, 64

Mor fbliodh, 43

Mér, lus, 73

Moran, 37, 114
Mormanta, 54
Morran, 9

Mothan, 79
Moth-uraich, 103
Mucag, preas nam, 29
Michog, 73
Mughard, 54
Mugoman, 44
Muilceann, 42
Muileog, 64
Muinmhear, 40
Muirlinn, 134
Muisean, 80
Mulabhar, 46
Mulart, 46

Mullach “dubh, 54
Muran, 44, 118

Mur droighionn, 29
Mur dhraidhean, 29
Mustard, 9

Nathair lus, 76

Nathrach, lus na, 79, 126
Nead chailleac y1
Neamhnaid, 27
Neandog, 89
Neantog keogh, 77
Neip, neup fiadhain, 9
Neul uisge, 2
Niansgoth, 54

ion, 66
Nodinean, 57
Nedinein mor, 59
Nedinein‘cladaich, 82
Norn, 37
Norp, 3
Nuallach, 71
Nuin, 66

Obran, craobh, 19
Odharach mhullaich, 49
Odharan, 44

Oidhche, lus na h-, 69
Oigh, lus na h-, 35
Oighreag, Oireag, 27
Oinsean, 66

Oladh "aa tiiaiehy 66
Om, omna, 93
Onen, 66

Or mheas, ubhal, 33
Orafoirt, 77
Oraisd, orainis, 33
Oragan, 76

Orna, 119

Orp, 37

Oruin, 100

Ouw, 39

Pacharan chapuill, 68
Pailm, 102

Paipean ruadh, 5
Partainn dearg, 32
Pearsal, 41

Pearsal mhdr, 41
Peighinn lus na, 39
Peighinn rioghail, 74
Petseag, 24

Pesair, 21

Pesair an arbhair, 21
Pesair chapuill, 21
Pesair dhubh, 21
Pesair bhuidhe, 21
Pesair nan luch, 21
Pesair nam preas, 21
Peur, 3

Phara “Gelli, lus, 56
Phara Lisle, 56
Phiobaire, lus, 76
Phione, lus, 4
Pincin, 8

Pin chrann, 99

Pis fiadhain, 21
Pleanntrain, 15
Plubairsin, 2
Plumbas, 24
Plumbas seargta, 24
Plir na gaoithe, 1
Plir na gréine, 10, 54
Plir na cubhaig, 7, 11
Plir an lochain, 61
Pliran elpizeanhaeny 61
Pobuill, 96

Pobal, 56

Ponair, ar

Ponair airneach, 21
Podnair chapull, 21, 68
Ponair churraigh, 68
Ponair Fhrangach, 21
Por-cochullach, 19
Praiseach bhaidhe, 9
Praiseach bhrathair, 84
Praiseach feidh, 6
Praiseach fiadhain, 84
Praiseach glas, 84
Praiseach garbh, 9
Praiseach mhin, 84
Praiseach nam mara, 83
Praiseach tragha, 6
Preas deilgneach, 4
Priobaid, 66

Probach, 133
Puinneag, 87

Purgaid, lus na, 87
Purpaidh, 84

Rabhagach, 4. 147
Racadal, 7. 138
Radharcain, 71
Raeimin radhairc, 71
Ragaim, meacan, 60
Raidleadh, 122

Rail, railaidh, 93
Raineach, 122

Rainneach Bheinn Ghouardie, 124)

Raineach nan crag, 123
Raineach cruaidh, 123
Raineach, frioth, 123
Raineach chuilinn, 124
Raineach, faile, 124
Raineach, marc, 124
Raineach madra, 124
Raineach Mhuire, 125
Raineach nan rodan, 124
Raineach mhor, 125
Raineach rioghail, 126
Raineach uaine, 125
Raith, 123

Ramh droighionn, 18
Raonal, lus Mhic, 4
Raosar dubh, 35
Raosar dearg, 35
Ras chrann sior uaine, 66
Reagha maighe, 40
Reagam, 40

Raeimin radhairc, 71
Rein an ruisg, 71
Riabhach, lus, 71
Riaghal cuil, 16

Rial cuil, 16

Rideog, rileog, 98
Righ na coille, 93
Righean righ, 16

Rod, roide, 55, 98
Roibhe, 60

Roille, 122

Roisnin, 71

Romhan, 121

Rés, 23

Ros lacha, 11

Rds mar, 75

Rods Mhuire, 75

Rds Mhiirie, 75

Ros Mairi fiadhaich, 64
Rods an t-solais, 10
Roineach mara, 136
Rosor, 81

Ruamh, ruain, 48
Rue, rugh, ruibh, z
Rue ailpeach, 1

154

Rue beg, z

Rue gharaidh, x
Ruideog, 9
Ruidel, 16
Ruinn ruise, 82
Ruintealas, 122
Ruis, 46
Ruiteagan, 28

Saidse, 75

Saidse coille, 75
Saidse fiadhain, 75
Saileog, 97

Sail bhuinne, 57
Sail cuach, 10
Sailigh Fhrancaigh, 98
Saileog, 98
Saimbair, 42
Samh, 16, 87
Samh bo, 87
Samhan, Jox
Samharcan 80
Saman, 81

Saoidh lus an t’, 41

Sceallan, 9

Sealbhag, 87
Sealbhag na fiodha, 17
Sealbhag nam fiadh, 87
Seagal, 119

Sealgag, sealgan, 87
Seamar, 20

Seamar cré, 71
Seamar chapull, 20
Seamhair Mhuire, 81
Seamrag, 16 130
Seamrag bhuidhe, 20
Seangan, 20

Searbh lus, 53

Searbhag mhilis, 69
Searraiche, 2

Seasg, 116

Seasgan, 117
Seathbhog, 76

Seicheir ghlan, 81
Seileach, 97

Seileach geal, 98
Seileach an t-srutha, 98
Seileachan, 34
Seileachan buidhe, 81
Seileachan Frangech. 34
Seileastar, 10
Seileastar gall, 116
Seileastar amh, 116
Seimhan, 114

Seircean suirich, 52
Seisg, mheirg, righ, 112
Seisg madraidh, 112
Seomar bhan, 30

Seud, 14

Sgathog fiadhain, 116
Sgeachag preas nan, 30
Sgeachag Mbuire, 60
Sgeach chibhraidh, 29
Sgeach mhadra, 29
Sgealag, 9

Sgeamh nan cloch, 123
Sgeamh dharaich, 123
Sgitheach dibh, 23
Sgitheach geal, 30
Seudar, 100

Seudar, fiodh, 100
Siabuin, lus an t-, 11
Sian sleibhe, 73

Sice, crann, 15
Sicinich lus an t-, 83

Sineamfheadha, ro
Sinicin, 37

Sinnsior, rot
Siobaid, 106
Siobhas, 122
Siothan, an, 72
Siorralach, 73

Siris, 24

Sitron, 33

Sith, lus nam ban, 72
Sith chainnt, 35
Sithcainne, 81
Siunas, 41
Slabhcean, slabhagan, 175
Slan lus, 75, 81

Slap chail, 83
Slat-mhara, 133

Slat gorm, 69
Sleamhan, 91
Sleiggan-shleeu, 73
Slochdan, 135
Smalaig, lus na, 41
Smearg, 29
Smeartan, 134
Smican, 137

Snaithe bhaitheadh, 35
Sobh, 87

Sobhrach, soghrach, 80
Sobhrach geamhraidh, 81
Soillse nan sil. 71
Soirigh, soghrach, 80
Spaine, lus na, 59
Sparain, 134
Spinach, 84
Spiontag, 35
Sporran, an, 6, 138
Spuirse, 88

Sradag, 90

Sraidin, 6

Sreang bogha, 19
Srdnamh, 106
Sruthan na muc, 50
Stalog, lus na, go
Stamh, 133

Sturdan, 122

Sithag, 27

Stbh craobh, 28
Subh thalmhainn, 28
Sibhan laire, 28
Subh, or sigh dharaich, 46
Sibh nam ban sithe, 28
Sighag, 20, 28
Siticair, lus an t-, 51
Suidheag, 28
Suileog, 98
Suirichean suirich, 52
Surag, 17

Sumark, 80
Surabhan, 55
Suramont, 55
Sithag, 27

Taga, 49

Taghta, lus, 102
Tamshae, 59
‘Teanga mhin, 77
Teanga na natbraich, 126
Teanga coin, 79
Teile, crann, 13
Teinne Eagla, 37

Tin gealach, 37

Tir pin, 37

Tlachd subh, 27
Tonn a’ chladaich, 82
Torachas biadhain, 3

Torman, 75
Traileach, 132
Treabhach, 139
Tri bhilean, 20
Tri bhileach, 48, 68
Tri ballan, 49
Trioman, 131
Prian tarran, 19
Trom, 46
Trombhoid, 73
Trusgan, 30
Tuiliop, 108

155

Tuilm, 93
Tuir cae 2
Tuireann, 121
Tuirseach, 12
Tuise, 45) 75
Tursarrain, 12

Ucus Frangach, 13
Ucus fhiadhain, 13
Vile ioc, 45
Uillean, 57

innean, 106
Uinnsean, 47, 66
Ur uaine, 85
Ur luachain, 113
Ur thalmhainn, 125
Ura bhallach, 49
Urach bhallach, 102, 142
Urach mhullaich, 49

ENGLISH AND SCIENTIFIC.

Acacia, 19
Acer, 15
Aceracez, 15
Achillea, 60, 141
Aconitum, 3
Acorus, IIT
Adders’ tongue, 126
Adiantum, 125
4Esculus, 96
Zgopodium, 44
Agaricus, 131
Agrimony, 29
Agrostis, 116
Aira, 123
Ajuga, 76
None, en
Alchemilla, 30
Alder, 95
Alexanders, 40
Algz, 132
Alisma, 110
All-heal, 45
Alliaria, 8
Allium, 106
Almond, 24
Alnus, 95
Aloe, 105
Alopecurus, 117
Alpine Ladies’ mantle, 30
Althea, 13
Amaranthus, 83
Amaryllidacze, 104
Amentiferz, 92
. Ammophila, 118
Amygdalus, 24
Anagallis, 81
Andromeda, 64
Anemone, 1
Anethum, 43
Angelica, 42
Anthirrinum, 72
Anthemis, 59
Anthoxanthum, 117
Anthriscus, 45
Anthyllis, 21
Apium, 4o
Apple, 31, 140
Apricot, 24
Aquilegia, 3
Araliacez, 38
Arbutus, 63
Archangel, 77
Arctium, 51
Arenaria, 12

Aristolochia, 87
Aristolochia fam., 89
Armoracia rusticana, 1
Armeria, 82
Arrow-grass, 110
Artemisia, 54
Artichoke, 54
Arum, 111

Arundo, 117, 142
Asarum, 87

Ash, 66

Ash (mountain), 32
Asparagus, 109
Aspen, 97

Asperula, 48
Asphodel bog, 107
Asplenium, 125

A. ceterach, 125

A. trichomanes, 125 ,
A. marinum, 125

A. ruta-muraria, 125
A. aaiantum, 125
Athyrium, 125
Atriplex, 83
Aurantiacez, 33
Auricula, 81

Avena, 118

Avens, water, 25
Avens, common, 26
Azalea, 63

Baldmoney, 42
Ballota, 77

Barbarea. 139
Barberry, 4

Barley, 119
Bay-tree, 85
Beam-tree (pyrus), 33
Bean, 21

Bearberry (black), 64
Bearberry (red), 63
Beech, 93

Beet, 83

Belladona, 69

Bellis, 57
Berberidacez, 4
Beta, 83

Betonica, Stachys, 78
Betony, 78

Betula, 95

Bidens, 60

Bilberry (whortleberry), 64
Bindweed, 68

Birch, 95

Bird cherry, 24
Bird’s-foot trefoil, 20
Bishop-weed, 44
Bistort, 86
Bitter-sweet, 69
ine were 2I ble)
ackberry (bramble), 28, 140
Black bindweed, 86 nee
Black horehound, 77
Blackthorn, 23
Bladder-fern, 123
Blechnum, 123
Bluebell, 61, 108
Bluebottle, 54
Bog-asphodel, 107
Bog-berry, 64
Bog-moss, 129
Bog-myrtle, 98
Boletus, 132
Borage, 78
Borago, 78
Botrychium 126
Box, 88
Brake, 125
Bramble, 28, 140
Brassica, 8
Briar (sweet), 29
Briza, 120
Brome grass, 119
Brook-lime, 70
Broom, 19
Broom-rape, 73
Bruise-wort, 11
Brayacez, 129
Buckbean, 68
Buckthorn, 18
Buckwheat (climbing), 86
Bugle, 76
Bugloss, 79
Bullace, 24
Bulrush, x15
Bunium, 41
Burdock, 52
Bur marigold, 60
Burnet, 30
Bur-reed, 112
Butcher’s broom, 109
Butterbur, 56
Bnttercups, 2
Butterwort, 79
Buxus, 88

Cabbage, 9
Cakile, 9

Calamagrostis, 118
Calamintha, 74
Calluna, 62

Caltha palustris, 3
Calysteiga, 69
Chamomile, 59
Campanulacez, 61
Campion (red) 11
Cane-grass, 118
Capsella, 6, 138
Caraway, 41
Cardamine, 7
Carduus, 52
Carex, 116
Carpinus, 94
Carrot, 44

Carum, 41
Caryophyllacez, 11
Castanea, 95
Cat’s-tail, rr
Cauliflower, 9
Cedar, 100
Celandine (common); 5, 147
Celandine (lesser), 2
Celastracee, 17
Celery (wild), 4x
Centaurea, 54
Centaury, 68
Charlock, 9, 139
Chase-the-devil, 4
Cheiranthus, 8
Chelidonium, 5
Chenopodiacez, 83
Chenopodium vulvaria, 84
Cherleria, 12
Cherry, 24
Chervil, 45
Chestnut, 95
Chickweed, 12
Chicory, 51
Chives, 107
Chlora, 68
Chondrus, 135
Chorda, 136
Chrysanthemum, 58
Corysosplenium, 37
Cicely (sweet), 45
Cicuta, 4o
Cinquefoil, 27
Circzea, 34
Cistacea, 9
Cystopteris, 123

C. fragalis, 124

C. montana, 124
Citrus, 33

Citron. 33

Clary, 75
Cleavers, 47
Cloudberry, 27
Cochlearia, 6
Colchicum, 104
Colt’s-foot, 56
Columbine, 3
Comarum, 27
Comfrey, 79
Common cotton rose, 55
Composite, so
Confervez, 137
Coniferz, 98
Conium, 40
Convallaria, 105
Convolvulacee, 68
Convolvulus, 69
Corrallina, 136
Coriander, 45

156

Cork-tree, 93
Cornacee, 39
Corn-cockle, 11
Cornel, 39
Corn-marigold, 58
Corn-sow thistle, 50
Corn-thistle, 53
Cornus, 39
Corydalis, 6
Cotton-grass, 115
Cotton sedge, 115
Cotyledon, 37
Couch grass, 121
Cow-berry, 64
Cow-parsnip, 44
Cowslip, 82
Crab-tree, 31
Co 6 F
ranberry, 64
Granesbill 16
Crassulaceze, 36
Crategus, 30
Cress (water), 7
Crithmum, 42
Crocus, 104
Crowberry, 87
Cowfoot fam., 2
Cruciferae, 6
Cryptograms, 123
Cuckoo-flower, 7
Cuckoo-pint, 111
Cucumber, 89
Cucurbitacez, 89
Cudbear, 130
Cudweed, 55
Cupuliferee, gz
Currant, 35
Cuscuta, 69
Cyclamen, 81
Cynoglossum, 79
Cynosurus, 120
Cyperceze, 114
Cypress, 99
Cystopteris, 123
Cytisus, 19

Dabeocia, 62
Daffodii, 104
Daffy-down-dilly, 104
Daisy, 57

Damson, 24
Dandelion, 50
Danewort (elder), 46
Daphne, 85

Darnel, 122

Daucus, 44

Deadly mghtshade (atropa), 69
Dead nettle, 77
Devil-in-the bush, 3
Devil’s bit, 49
Dewberry, 29
Dictamnus, 76
Digitalis, 72

Dill, 43

Dipsacea:, 49
Dipsacus, 49
Dittany, 76

Dock, 86

Dodder, 69

Dog lichen, 139
Dyes mercury (wood mercury),

9
Dog’s tail, 120
Dog-rose, 29
Dog-violet, 10

Dog-wood, 39
Dropwort, 25
Drosera, 10

Dwarf beech, 95
Dwarf elder, 46
Dwarf mallow, 13

Earth-nut, 41
Echium, 79
Elder, 46
Elecampane, 57
m, 91
Empetrum, 87
Enchantress nightshade, 34
Endive, 51
Epilobium, 34
Epipactis, 103
Equisetacea, 128
Equisetum, 128
Erica, 61
E, tetralix, 6x
E. cinerea, 62
E. Hibernica, 62
Ericaceze, 61
Eriophorum, 115
Ervum, 21
Eryngium, 39
Erysimum, 8
Erythrza, 68
Euonymus, 17
Eupatorium, 60
Euphorbiacea, 88
pephorbe 88
E. helioscopea, 88
EF. exigua, 88
E. peplus, 88
E. Hiberna, 88
E. paralias, 88
Euphrasia, 71
Everlasting, 55
Eyebright, 71

Faba, 21
Fairy flax, 12
Fagus, 93
Fennel, 4x
Fennel-giant, 44
Fenugreek, 20
Fern family, 123
Ferula, 44
Fescue grass, 121
Festuca, 120
Fever few, 59
Ficus, 91
F, Indica, 91
Field madder, 47
Fig, 91
Figwort, 72
Filago, 55
Filices, 123
Fiorin grass, 116
Fir, 9
Flag (yellow), 103
lax, 12
Flixweed, 8
Foniculum, 41
Forget-me-not, 79
Foxglove, 72
Foxtail grass, 117
Fragaria, 27
Fraxinus, 66

French bean, 21
French willow, 98
Fucus, 133
Fumaria, 5
Fumariacee, 5
Fumitory, 5
Fungi, 131
Furze, 19

Galanthus, 105

Gale, 98

Galeopsis, 77

Galium, 47

Garlic, 106

Garlic mustard, 8
Gentian, 67
Gentianacez:, 67
Geraniacez, 16
Geranium, 16

Geum, 25

Gilliflower, 8
Glasswort, 83
Glaucium, 5
Globeflower, 22
Glyceria, 120 |
Gnaphalium, 55
Golden rod, 61
Golden saxifrage, 37
Goldilocks, 2

Good King Henry, 84
Gooseberry, 36
Goosefoot, 84
Goosegrass (seaside), 83
Gorse, 19

Goutweed, 44
Graminez, 116

Grape vine, 15

Grass family, 116
Grass-of-Parnassus, 38
Grassrack (sea-grass), 110
Ground ivy, 76
Groundsel, 56, 141
Guelder rose, 46

Harebell, 61
Hare’s-foot clover, 20
Hart’s-tongue fern, 125
Halydris, 136
Hawkweed, 61
Hawkweed (mouse-ear), 50
Hawthorn, 30

Hazel, 94
Heartsease, 10
Heath, 64

Heath bedstraw, 47
Heath C ornish, 62
Hedera, 38

Hedge mustard, 8
Helianthemum, 10
Hellebore (green), 3
Hellebore, 3
Helleborine (white), 103
Helleborus, 3
Helminthia, 50
Helosciadium, 41
Hemanthalia, 136
Hemerocallez, 103
Hemlock, 40

Hemp, 90

Hemp agrimony, 60
Hemp nettle, 77
Henbane, 7°
Heracleum, 44

Herb Robert, 16
Herniaria, 83

157

Hepatica, 1

Hieracium, 50

Holcus, 121

Holly, 65

Holly fern, t24

Hollyhock, 13

Holm-tree, 93

Holostea, 12

Honeysuckle, 47
Op, 90 |

Hop trefoil, 20
oredeum, 119

Horehound, 77

Hornbeam, 94

Horse-chestnut, 96

Horse-radish, 7, 138

poeta 128
ounds-tongue,

House-leek, 37 m2

Hyacinth (wild), 108

Hydrocotyle, 39

Hyoscyamus, 70

Hypericum, 13

Hyssop. 76

Tlex, 65

Inula, 57

Tridacezz, 103

Iris, 103

Isatis, 6

Ivy, 38

Jasione, 61
Jessamine, 29
Juglans, 18
Juncacee, 112
Juncus, 112
Juniper, 100
Juniperus, too

Kale, 9

Kidney vetch, 21
Knapweed, 54
Knautia, 50
Knot-grass, 86

Labiatze, 74
Laburnum, 19
Lactuca, so

Lady fern, 125
Ladies’ bedstraw, 48
Ladies’ fingers, 21
Ladies’ mantle, 30
Ladies’ smock, 7
Laminaria, 133
Lamium, 77
Lapsana, 51
Larch, 99
Lastrea, 124

L. oreopteris, 124
L. Felix mas, 104, 125
L.. Spinulosa, 124
Lathyrus, 21
Laurel, 85
Lavender, 75
Lecanora, 130
Leek, 106
Legumniferz, 19
Lemon, 33
Lemna, 110
Lemnacez, 110
Lentiles, 21
Leontodon, 50
Lepturus, 118
Lepidium, 76
Lettuce, 50

Lichens, 129
Ligusticum, 41

Lilac, 66

Liliacea, 105

Lilium candidum, 105
Lily-of-the-valley, 105
Lime, 13

Linaces®, 12

Linden, 13

Ling, 63

Linum, 12

Listera, ro2
Liverwort, 129
Lobelia, (water), 61
Lolium, 122

London pride, 37
Lonicera, 47
Loosestrife (purple), 35
Loosestrife (yellow), 81
Loranthacez, 45
Lords and ladies, r11
Lotus, 21

Louse-wort, 71
Lovage, 41

Lovage (common), 41
Lunaria (moonwort), 126
Lungwort, 130

Luzula, 114

Lychnis, rz
Lycoperdon, 131

-| Lycopodiacee, 128

Lycopodium, 128
L. selago, 128

L. clavatum, 128
L. annotinum, 128
Lycopsis, 70
Lysimachia, 81
Lythracez, 35
Lythrum, 35

Madder, 47
Maiden-hair fern, 125
Male fern, 124
Mallow, 13

Malva, 13

Malvacee, 13
Mandragora (Mandrake), 70
Mangel-wurzel, 83
Maple, 15

Maram, 118
Marchantiacez, 129
Marigold (corn), 58
Marjoram, 76
Marrubium, 77
Marsh cinquefoil, 27
Marsh-mallow, 13
Marsh-marigold, 2
Marsh-pennywort, 39
Marsh-thistle, 53
Mastic tree, 33
Mary’s thistle, 53
Marshwort, 41
Masterwort, 43
Mat-grass, 122
Matricaria, 59
Matthiola, 8

May (hawthorn), 30
Mayweed, 59
Meadow-rue, 1
Meadow saffron, 104
Meadew-sweet, 25
Meadow saxifrage, 37
Medlar, 30
Melancholy thistle, 52

.Meton, 89

Mentha, 74
Menyanthes, 68
Mercurialis, 89
Mercury (wood), 89
Mespilugs, 30

eu, 42
Meun, 42
Mildew, 132
Milfoil (water), 35
Milkwort, rz
Millet, 117
Mint, 74
Mistletoe, 45
Molinia, 119
Monkshood, 3
Monk’s rhubarb, 87
Moonwort, 126
Morus, 92
Mosses, 129
Moulds, 132
Mountain.ash, 32
Mountain bladder fern, 123
Mountain‘sorrel, 87
Mucedo, 132
Mugwort, 54
Mulberry, 92
Mullein, 70
Mushrooms, 131
Mustard (wild), 9
Myosotis, 79
Myrica, 98
Myriophyllum, 35
Myrrhis, 45
Myrtle, 34

Naiad family, roo
Narcissus, 104
Nard (Celtic), 49
Nardus, 122
Narthecium, 107
Nasturtium, 7
Navelwort, 37
Nepeta, 76
Nerium. 85
Nettle, 89
Nicotiana, 70
Nigella, 4
Nightshade, 69
Nipplewort, 51
Nuphar, 4
Nymphezacez, 4

Oak, 92

Oak fern, 123
Oats, 118

Olea, 65
Oleander, 85
Olive, 65

Onion, 106
Ononis, 19
Onopordon, 52
Ophioglossum, 126
Ophrys, 102
Orache, 84
Orange, 33
Orchidacez, 102
Orchid fam., 102
Origanum, 76
Orobanche, 73
Orobus, 21
Orpine, 36
Osier, 97
Osmunda, 126
Oxalis, 16
Ox-eye daisy, 59

158

Ox-tongue, 79

Palma, 102
Peonia, 4
Peony, 4

Pansy, 10
Papaver, 5
Papaveracezs, 5
Papilionaceze, 19
Parietaria, go
Paris, 105
Parmelia, 130
Parnassia, 38
Parsley, 41
Parsnip, 43
Pastinaca, 43

Pea, 21

Peach, 24

Pear, 31
Pedicularis, 71
Pellitory, 9>
Pellitory of Spain, 59
Peltidea, 130
Pennyroyal, 74
Pennywort, 39
Pennycress, 6
Peplis (Euphorbia), 88
Pepperwort, 76
Periwinkle, 67
Persicaria, 86
Petasites, 56
Petroselinum, 41
Phleum, 117
Phoenix, ro2
Phyllodoce, 63
Pignut, 41
Pimpernel, 81
Pinguicula, 79
Pine, 99

Pine family, 99
Pinus, 99
Pistacia, 33
Pisum, 21

Plane, 15
Plantaginace», 82
Plantago, 82
Platanus, 15
Plum, 24
Plumbaginacem, 82
Porphyra, 135
Polyanthus, 81
Polygalacex, 11
Polygonacex, 85
Polygonum, 85
Polygonatum, 106
Polypodium, 123
Polypody, 123
Polyporus, 132
Polysiphonia, 136
Polystichum, 124
Pomegranate, 34
Pond-weed, 109
Poplar, 96
Poppy, 5

Poppy (horned), 5
Boppy (somniferum). 5
Populus, 96
Potamogeton, tog
Potato, 69
Potentil, 26, 139
Primrose, 80
Primrose fam,, 80
Primula, 80
Primulacem, 80
Privet, 66

Prunella, 78

Prunus, 24

Psamma, 118

Pteris, 125

Puff-ball, 131
Pulmonaria, 130
Punica, 34

Purple loosestrife, 35
Purslane-like orache, 84
Pyrus, 31

Quick beam (Pyrus aria), 33

Oui of the meadow, 25
uaking-grass, 120

Quercus, 92

Quince, 33

Radish, 7, 138
Ragged robin, rr
Ragwort, 57
Ranunculacez, 1
Ranunculus family, 1
Raphanus, 7
Raspberry, 28
Rattle (yellow), 72
Red campion, 11
Red rattle, 71
Reed, 116
Reed-grass, 117, 142
Reed-mace, 112
Reseda, 9
Resedace®, 9
Rest-harrow, 19
Rhamnus, 18
Rhinanthus, 72
Rhodiola, (sedum), 36
Rhodymenia, 134
Rhubarb (Monk’s), 87
Ribes family, 35
Ribwort, 82
Rocket (sea), 7
Rocambole, 107
Rock-rose, 10
Rosacew, 23
Rosebay, 34
Rosemary 75
Roseroot, 36
Rowan-tree, %
Royal fern, 126
Rubia, 47
Rubiacesx, 47
Rubus, 27
Rue, 1
Rue fern, 125
Rumex, 86
Rupture-wort, 83
Ruscus, 10g
Rush family 112
Ruta (graveolens), 1
Rye, 119
Rye-grass, 122
ag 104

age, 75
St. John’s wort, 13
Salicaria, 35
Salicornia, 83
Salix, 97
Sallow, 96
Salt-wort, 83
Sambucus nigra, 46
Samphire, 41
Sandalwood (Fiodh Almiug)
Sandwort, 12
Sanguisorba, 30

Sanicle (wood), 39
Santalum (Sandalwood)
Saponaria, 11
Sargassum, 136
Sarothamnus, 19
Sauce-alone, 8
Savin, 101
Savory, 75
Saxifragaew, 37
Saxifrage, 37
Scabiosa, 49
Scabious, 49
Schoenus, 114
Scilla, 108
Scirpus, 114
Scolopendrium, 125
Scouring rush, 129
Scrophularia, 72
Scrophularicez, 70
Scurvy-grass, 6
Sea gilly-flower rocket, 7
Sea holly, 39
Sea-kale or cabbage, 9
Sea matweed, 118
Sea rocket, 7
Sea spurge, 88
Seaweeds, 132
Sea wheat-grass, 122
Seaware, 132
Secale, 119
Sedge, 116
Sedum, 36
Selago, 128 |
Self-heal, 78
Sempervirum, 37
Senecio, 56
Serrated seaweed, 133
Service tree, 33
Shallot, 107
Shamrock, 16, 20, 81, 139
Sheep’s-bit, 61
Sheep sorrel, 87
Shepherd’s-purse, 6, 138
Shepherd’s weatherglass, 8:
Shieldfern, 124
Silverweed, 26
Sinapis, 9
Sisymbrium, 8
Sium, 43
Skirrets, 26, 43
Sloe, 23
Smallage, 41
Suaporascr: 72
Snakeweed, 86
Sneezewort, 60
Snowdrop, 105
Soapwort, 11
Soft tinder, 132
Solanacem, 69
Solanum, 69
Solidago, 61
Sonchus, 50

orrel, 87
Southernwood, 55
Sow-bread (cyclamen), 8
Sow-fennel, 43
Sow-thistle, so
Sphagnum, 129

parganium, 112
Spearwort, 2
Speedwell, 71
Spergula, rr
Spignel, 42

159

Spinage (wild), 84
Bpindle-tree, 17
Spirea, 25
Spleenwort, 125
Spurge, 88

purry, Ir
Squill, 108
Stachys, 78
Stellaria, 12
Sticta, 130
Stinking Mayweed, 59
Stitchwort, 12
Stonebramble, 28
Stonecrop, 36
Strawberry, 28
Strawberry-tree, 64
Subularia, 9
Sueda, s3

Succisa (scabiosa), 49
Succory, 51

Sundew, 10
Sunflower, 54

Sweet briar, 29
Sweet flag, 111
Sweet mountain fern, 124
Sweet violet, 10
Sweet woodruff, 48
Sycamore, 15
Symphytum, 79
Syringa, 66

Tanacetum, 59
Tansey, 59
Taraxacum, 50
Taxus, ror

Tea, 70

Teasel, 49
Telephium, 36
Teucrium, 75
Thalictrum, r
Thistle, 52
Thlaspi, 6
Thrift, 82
Thuga, z00
Thyme, 76
Thymus, 76
Tilia, 13
Tiliacew, 13
Timothy grass, 117
Tormentilla, 26
Trefoil, 20
Trichomanes, 125
Trigonella, 20
Trifolium, 20
Triglochin, 110
Triticum, 121
Trollius (footnote), 22
Truffle, 131
Tufted vetch, 21
Tuber, 131
Tulip, 108
Turnip, 8
Turpentine tree, 34
Tussilago, 56
Tutsan, 14
Twayblade, 102
Typha, 111
Typhaces, 111

Ulex, 19
Ulmus, 91
Ulva, 135
Umbelliferee, 39

Urtica, 89
Urticacew, 89

Vaccinium. 64
Valerian, 48
Valerian dwarf, 49
Valeriana, 48
Verbascum, 70
Verbena, 73
Verbenacex, 73

Viburnum opulus, 46
Vicia, 21

Viola family, 10
Violacex, 10

Viper’s bugloss, 79
Viscum album, 45
Vitis, 15

Vine, 15

Vinca, 67

Wake-robin, 111
Wall hawkweed, 50
Wallflower, 8

Wall pepper, 36
Wall-pennywort, 37
Wall rue fern, 125
Walnut, 18

Water crowfoot, 2
Watercress, 7
Water elder, 46
Water hemlock, 40
Water-lily, 4
Water-milfoil, 35
Water parsnip, 43
Water pepper, 86
Water plaintain, 110
Water avens, 25
erlang tree, 47

Whin, 19

White tansy, 26
White thorn, 30
Wortleberry, 64
Wild navew, 9
Willow, 97

Willow herb, 34
Winberry (bilberry), 64
Wind-flower, r
Winter cress, 139
Woad, 6

Wolfsbane, 3
Woodbine, 47
Woodruff, 48

Wood sage, 75
Wood sorrel, 16
Wood strawberry, 27
Wormwood, 55
Woundwort, 78

Varrow, 60, 141
Yellow flag, 103
Yellow bedstraw, 48
Yellow-weed, 9
Yellow rattle, 72
Yellow vetching, 21
Yellow-wort, 68
Yew, ror

Zostera, 110

160

CLAN BADGES.

Alpin, Clan, 99 MacKintosh, 89
Buchanan, 65,95 MacLachlan, - - 33, 67
Cameron,- 93 MacLaren, 85
Campbell, - 98 MacLean, 29, 88
Clan Chattan, 64, MacLeod, IOI
Colquhoun, 63,94 MacMillan, - 65
Donnachaidh, 62 MacNab, - 29
Ferguson, fe) MacNeill, - 26
Forbes, - 19 MacPherson, - - 89
Fraser, - Io1 Macrae, - - 128
Gordon, - 39 Menzies, - 67
Gunn, 36 Munro, 128
Hay, : 46 Murray, - - I01
Lamont, - 26, 32 Ogilvie, - - 31
MacAulay, - 64 Oliphant, - ” - 15
MacDonald, - 63 Robertson, = - 62
MacDougall, 100 Rose, - - 64
MacFarlane, - 28 Ross, - - IOI
MacGregor, 99 Sinclair, - - 20
Mackay, - 115, 143 Stuart, - - - 54
MacKenzie, 11S Sutherland, - - 109, 116
MacKinnon, 14

ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR, PRINTER, GLASGOW.

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