Page:Glossary of words in use in Cornwall.djvu/324

A GLOBSART OF DEVONSHIRE PLANT NAMES. 55 from growing by the water, and being like a Buttercup, only a large jxi^fem." Water Lilt, Iris Pseudaconia^ L. It will be easy to account for the Iri3 being locally called a Lily when we remember (1) that this flower is generally supposed to be the Lily of France, and (2) that one of our greatest writers speaks of " Lilies of all kinds, The flower-de-luce being one.'* Weazbls, a common pronunciation of Wurzda, Wkbpino Willow, CytiauB Laburnum^ L. From its drooping clusters of golden blossoms, and its leaf being somewhat like that of the willow. The common name in some parts of !North Devon, shared by Drooping Willow, which see. (Of. Prior, p. 251.) White Bluebell. The white variety of SciUa nutans, Sm. An anomaly like a ** white violet " or a white rose, only more marked. Whiteheads (1) Spikes of Typha laiifolia, L., when the downy matter has ripened and lost the colour, which leads to the designa- tion Blackheads, which see. (2) The name of a certain kind of appla White Stinq Nettle, Lamium albums L. (See Stinot Nettles. White, or Whit Sunday, (1) SteUariu Holostea, L. See a letter on this subject in the Academy, April 8th, 1882, p. 250, in which I tried to show the importance and interest of this name. In Mr. Britten's reply to the same (Academy, April 22nd, 1882, p. 287) we have mention made of (2) NarcUstis biflorus, L., as bearing the name of Whitsunday in both North and South Devon. In Somerset and Salop we find a Whitsun Gilliflower (Hespens inairmmUs), ibid, Gf. Britten's Dictionary, p. 205, while Whitsun-boss (bush) is a Gloucestershire name for the Guelder Rose. {Cf. such names as Pink, Spink, Easter Bose, Piggesnie, &c., in Prior, for further illustrations.) Whitney, Viburnum Lantata, L Dr. Prior, p. 253, has: Whitten-Tree," a tree so-called from its white branches ; in Berkshire, the way£uer ti'ee : but according to Gerarde (p. 1237), the water-elder ( Viburnum Opidtis, L.)." In Devonshire they have a saying, " As tough as a Whitney Stick,'^ and farm lads always used to seek this wood for their rustic whips, d;c. The wood is notably toiigh, which makes me think that the name may as likely be connected with withs as with white. This idea is confirmed by the &ct that it is called lithy-tree (Prior, p. 137), from AS. Zi%, pliant {Of, Prior, p. 255, for etymology of " Withy.") Wild Dog-Bosb, or Wild Eose, Rosa canina, L. In this case it has been suggested that dog " is not a synonym of wild," as in such words as ^'Dog-elder," &o,, but that it received its name on account of its being employed to cure the bite of dogs. (Gf, Britten, p. 155.)