1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910784659803321

Autore

Watts Donald <1922-2004.>

Titolo

Dictionary of plant lore / / Donald Watts

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Amsterdam ; ; Boston, : Elsevier/AP, c2007

ISBN

1-281-03771-0

9786611037710

0-08-054602-1

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (482 pages)

Disciplina

580

580.14

Soggetti

Materia medica, Vegetable

Plant names, Popular

Plants

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 449-471).

Nota di contenuto

Front Cover; Dictionary of Plant Lore; Copyright Page; Dedication Page; Preface; Contents; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; Bibliography

Sommario/riassunto

Knowledge of plant names can give insight into largely forgotten beliefs. For example, the common red poppy is known as ""Blind Man"" due to an old superstitious belief that if the poppy were put to the eyes it would cause blindness. Many plant names derived from superstition, folk lore, or primal beliefs. Other names are purely descriptive and can serve to explain the meaning of the botanical name. For example, Beauty-Berry is the name given to the American shrub that belongs to the genus Callicarpa. Callicarpa is Greek for beautiful fruit.