Page:Glossary of words in use in Cornwall.djvu/290

A GLOSSARY OF DEVONSHIRE PLANT NAMES. 21 Dragon Flower^ Iris Psettdacorus and /. fmtidisaima^ L., possibly a corruption of Dagger-flower. {Of, DAOOSRd.) It may, however, have been applied to the plants on account of the fruit of /. fcetidisaima having been named SnakeVmeat" and " Adder's- food," just as the name " Dragonwort " was given to Polygonum histortOy L., in common with "Snakeweed" and Adderwort" (Of. Britten, pp. 158, 159.) There is just a possibility tiiat the name may be a remnant of early mythology. The Iris was Thor's flower, and Thor was the Thunderer and Uie Dragon. Drooping Willow, (1) Salior Bahylonica, L, the Weeping Willow. (2) Ct/tisus Laburnum, L., also called Weeping Willow (which see), on account of its long elegant chains of gold (compare the name "Golden Chain") hajaging down like the branches of that tree. Drunkard, Ccdtha pulustrisj L., on account of its fondness for water — a haimless kind of drink as a rule, and one which does not generally procure for its advocates the name of drunkard. {Cf. Trans, Devon. Assoc. xiiL 207.) The children say if you gather them you will get drunk, and on this account they are called "Drunkards." (0/1 Drunk as a name for Darnel, and infra s.v. Eaver. Britten, p. 160.) Drunken Sailor, Valeriana rubra, L. (or Centranthus ruber, DC), a name in use about Plymouth, where the motion of the plant in the wind reminds one of the actions of a sailor when he is unable to control himself. Duck's-bills. (1) The name of an Apple from its shape. For the same reason applied also to (2) Syringa vulgaris, L., or the common Lilac blossoma This name was given me by an elderly lady of great intelligence. Dun Daist, Chrysanthemtcm Leucanthemum, L. A contraction of Dunder Daisy, which in turn does duty for Thunder Daisy, which see. In use rather in Somersetshire as a regular name than in the parts of Devon with which I am acquainted. Some would give " Dun " the meaning of hill, DwARW Elder, Sambucus Ebulus, L., for " Dwarf Elder," the letter t often coming in at the end of words, as "suddent," " attackt," &c. Ear-drops, Flowers of the common Fuchsia. Also called " Lady's Ear-drops. More common twenty years ago than now. The old people say it was the common name in years gone by, but is now seldom used. Exactly so in Sussex. In American works on Botany the old name still appears as the popular designation. (Lincoln's Botany, 153.) Easter Bell, Stellaria Hdostea, L., " From its time of flowering, and the shape of the half-expanded blossoms." (Cf, Britten, p. 34 ; infra s.v. White-Sunday.)