The Phytologist (Volume 6); A Botanical Journal

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1863 Excerpt: ... Kentish Botany. Centaurea solstitialis, Yellow Stor-Thistle, Bamaby's Thistle.--On Friday, the 5th of September, 1862, I found this plant growing in a cloverfield on the north side of the road leading from Bromley to Chiselhurst. This field forms part of the Beckley estate, lately purchased by George Wythes, Esq., and which formerly belonged to Mr. Wells, who occupied its mansion, etc. Some houses are being erected at the top of the field, and shortly I expect the whole meadow will be covered with bricks and mortar. Could you tell me why this flower is called St. Bamaby's Thistle? St. Barnabas's day is on the 11th of June, and the 'Floral Directory ' states that the Chrysanthemum, leucanthemum is the flower dedicated to St. Barnabas. S. Beisly. Shaksfeare Flowers. I think it is generally agreed by the contributors to the ' Phytologist, ' that the flower called Long Purples in ' Hamlet' (forming part of Ophelia's garland) is the Orchis mascula; but I was asked by Mr. Perry, of Warwick, a few days since, whether Shakspeare might not have intended the Arum maculatum, as Long Purples. I doubt this, because I think the Arum would not have been so readily found in the meadow near the brook, across which the Willow grew aslaunt, as the Orchis mascula; but I should feel much obliged if some of your readers can inform me if they ever heard the Arum called Long Purples. It is called by other names, such as Starchwort, Lords-and-Ladies, Cuckoopint, Wake-robin, Calf'sfoot, and Bampe, but I never heard it called Long Purples. The Caltha palustris is called May-blobs by the children who gather the flower in the meadows near Warwick; they also call the Wood Anemone (A. nemorosd) Granny's Nightcap; and the Stellaria holostea is called by them Billy White's Buttons...