Jesi
New Member
Before universal names and the Latin classifications of species and genus, people often had regional names for herbs. These names often had something to do with the appearance and/or associations of the herb in question and as you will see, people were quite creative in their naming. So remember, next time you hear of a Witch putting eye of newt in his or her cauldron, all it is a specific type of mustard seed.
Folk Name - Common Name - Latin
I may intend to ad Gaelic at some point were applicable not i need to clean up the list a bit first.
A
* A Hawk’s Heart: Heart of Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
* A Lion’s Hairs: Tongue of a Turnip [i.e., the leaves of the taproot] Brassica napus
* A Man’s Bile: Turnip Sap Brassica napus
* A Pig’s Tail: Leopard’s Bane Arnica montana
* A Titan’s Blood: Wild Lettuce Lactuca virosa
* Aaron’s Rod: Goldenrod Solidago Virgaurea -or- Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* A Bone of an Ibis: Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
* Absinthe: Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium
* Adder’s Fork: Bistort Polygonum Bistorta
* Adder’s Mouth: Chickweed Stellaria Media
* Adder’s Tongue: Dogstooth Violet Erythronium multiscapoideum
* Alison Alyssum Alyssum spp
* Angel’s Trumpet: Jimsonweed / Datura Datura Stamonium
* Apple of Carthage: Pomegranate Punica Granatum
* Archangel: Angelica Angelica archangelica
* Artemis Herb: Mugwort Artemisia Vulgaris
* Ass’s Ear: Comfrey Symphytum Officinale -or- Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara
* Ass’s Foot: Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara
* An Eagle: Wild Garlic Allium sativum
* Auld Man’s Bells: Bluebells Scilla Nutans, Scilla non-scripta, Hyacinthoides non-scripta
B
* Bad Man’s Oatmeal: Hemlock Conium Maculatum
* Bastard: False or White Dittany Dictamnus Albus
* Bat’s Wings: Holly Ilex Aquifolium
* Beard of the Monk: Chicory Cichorium Intybus
* Bear’s Foot: Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla Vulgaris
* Bear’s Grape: Poke Root Phytolacca decandra -or- Uva Ursa Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi
* Bear’s Paw: Root Male Fern Dryopteris Felix-mas
* Bear’s Weed; Yerba Santa Eryodictyon californicum
* Beggar’s Buttons: Burdock Arctium Lappa
* Beggar’s Lice: Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale
* Bird’s Eye: Germander or Speedwell Teucrium chamaedrys
* Bird’s Foot: Fenugreek Trigonella Foenum-graecum
* Bird’s Nest: Indian Pipe Monotropa Uniflora
* Bishop’s Elder: Betony Stachys Officinalis, Betonica Officinalis, Stachys Betonica
* Bishop’s Leaves: Water Figwort Scrophularia Aquatica
* Bishop’s Wort: Betony Stachys Officinalis, Betonica Officinalis, Stachys Betonica
* Black Sampson: Echinacea Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea angustifolia
* Blind Eyes: Poppies Papaver Spp. & Somniferum
* Blood Elder: sap of Elder Sambucus Nigra
* Blood from a Head: Lupine Lupinus perennis, Lupinus polyphyllus
* Blood from a Shoulder: Bear’s Breach Acanthus spinosus
* Blood of Ares: Purslane Portulaca sativa
* Blood of a Goose: Milk of the Mulberry Tree Morus nigra
* Blood of a Snake: Hematite mineral form of Iron oxide (Fe2O3)
* Blood of an Eye: Tamarisk Gall Tamarix orientalis
* Blood of Ares: Purslane Portulaca Spp.
* Blood of Hephaistos: Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium
* Blood of Hestia: Chamomile Anthemis Nobilis
* Bloodwort: Yarrow Achillea Millefolium
* Bloody Butcher: Valerian Valeriana Officinalis
* Bloody Fingers: Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea, Digitalis Lanata
* Boy’s Love: Southernwood Artemisia Abrotanum
* Brain Thief: Mandrake Atropa Mandragora
* Bread and Cheese Tree: Hawthorne Crataegus oxyacantha
* Bride of the Meadow: Meadowsweet Eupatorium Purpureum
* Bride of the Sun: Calendula Calendula Officinalis
* Brown Dragon: Wake Robin Arisaema Triphyllum, Arum spp.
* Bull’s Blood: Horehound Marrubium Vulgare
* Bull’s Foot: Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara
* Bull’s Semen: Egg of a Blister Beetle beetles (Coleoptera) of the family Meloidae
* Burning Bush: White Dittany Dictamnus albus
* Buttons Tansy: Tanacetum Vulgare
C
* Calf’s Snout: Snapdragon Antirrhinum Magus
* Candelmas Maiden: Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis
* Candlewick Plant: Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* Capon’s Tail: Valerian Valeriana Officinalis
* Carpenter’s Herb: Sweet Bugle Lycopus Virginicus
* Carpetner’s Square: Knotted Figwort Scrophularia nodosa
* Cat: Catnip Nepta Cataria
* Cat’s Foot: White Balsam Gnaphalium polycephalum -or- Canada Snake Root Asarum Canadensis -or- Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea
* Cat’s Herb: Valerian Valeriana Officinalis
* Chameleon Star: Bromeliad Vriesia, Billbergia, Aechmae, Annanas, Bromelia, Guzmania, Cryptanthus, Neoreglia spps
* Cheeses: Marsh Mallow Althaea Officinalis
* Christ’s Eye: Vervain Sage Salvia Verbenaca
* Christ’s Ladder: Centaury Erythraea Centaurium
* Christ’s Spear: Adder’s Tongue Fern Ophioglossum Vulgatum
* Church Steeples: Agrimony Agrimonia Eupatoria, Agrimonia Gyposepala
* Chocolate Flower: Wild Geranium Geranium manculatum
* Clear Eye: Clary Sage Salvia sclarea
* Click: Goosegrass Galium aparine
* Clot: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* Colt’s Tail: Canadian Fleabane Erigeron Canadense
* Corpse Plant: Indian Pipe Monotropa Uniflora
* Cuddy’s Lungs: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* Crane’s Bill: Wild Geranium Geraniaum Maculatum
* Crocodile Dung: Ethiopian Soil
* Crowdy Kit: Figwort Scrophularia nodosa
* Crow Foot: Wild Geranium Geraniaum Maculatum -or- Wood Anemone Anemone Nemorosa
* Crown for a King: Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium
* Cuckoo’s Bread: Common Plantain Plantago major
* Cucumber Tree: Magnolia Magnolia acuminata
D
* Dagger Flower: Blue Flag Iris versicolor
* Daphne: Laurel/Bay Laurus nobilis
* Dead Man’s Bells: Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea, Digitalis Lanata
* Death’s Herb: Belladonna Atropa belladonna
* Delight of the Eye: Rowan Sorbus Spp.
* Devil Plant: Sweet Basil Ocimum Basilicum
* Devil’s Apple: Mayapple Podophyllum peltaltum -or- Mandrake Atropa Mandragora
* Devil’s Beard: Houseleek Sempervivum tectorum
* Devil’s Bit; False Unicorn Root Chamaelirium luteum
* Devil’s Cherries: Belladonna Atropa belladonna
* Devils Dung: Asafoetida Ferula Foetida
* Devil’s Ear: Wake Robin Arisaema Triphyllum, Arum spp.
* Devil’s Eye: Henbane Hyoscyamus Niger -or- Periwinkle Vinca major, Vinca minor
* Devil’s Flower: Bachelor’s Buttons Centaurea cyanus
* Devil’s Fuge: Mistletoe Viscum Album
* Devil’s Guts: Dodder Cuscuta Europaea
* Devil’s Herb: Belladonna Atropa belladonna
*Devil’s Milk: Celandine Chelidonium Majus
*Devil’s Nettle: Yarrow Achillea Millefolium
* Devil’s Plaything: Yarrow Achillea Millefolium
*Devil’s Shoestring: Black Haw Vibrunum Prunifolium -or- Cramp Bark Viburnum opulus -or- Hobblebush Viburnum alnifolium -or- North American Goat’s Rue Tephrosia virginiana
* Dew of the Sea: Rosemary Rosemarinus Officinalis
* Dogberry: Brier Hips Rosa Canina
* Dog’s Mouth: Snap Dragon Antirrhinum Magus
* Dog’s Tongue: Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale
* Dove’s Foot: Wild Geranium Geraniaum Maculatum
* Dragon: Tarragon Artemisia Dracunculus -May also be a reference to Ash
* Dragon Flower: Blue Flag Iris versicolor
* Dragon Wort: Bistort Polygonum Bistorta
* Dragon’s Blood: Calamus Acorus calamus
* Dragon’s Teeth: Blue Vervain Verbena Officinalis
* Drunkard: Calendula Calendula Officinalis
* Duck’s Foot: Mayapple Podophyllum peltaltum
* Dulcamara: Woody Nightshade Celastrus scandens
* Dwale: Deadly Nightshade Atropa Belladonna
Folk Name - Common Name - Latin
I may intend to ad Gaelic at some point were applicable not i need to clean up the list a bit first.
A
* A Hawk’s Heart: Heart of Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
* A Lion’s Hairs: Tongue of a Turnip [i.e., the leaves of the taproot] Brassica napus
* A Man’s Bile: Turnip Sap Brassica napus
* A Pig’s Tail: Leopard’s Bane Arnica montana
* A Titan’s Blood: Wild Lettuce Lactuca virosa
* Aaron’s Rod: Goldenrod Solidago Virgaurea -or- Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* A Bone of an Ibis: Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
* Absinthe: Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium
* Adder’s Fork: Bistort Polygonum Bistorta
* Adder’s Mouth: Chickweed Stellaria Media
* Adder’s Tongue: Dogstooth Violet Erythronium multiscapoideum
* Alison Alyssum Alyssum spp
* Angel’s Trumpet: Jimsonweed / Datura Datura Stamonium
* Apple of Carthage: Pomegranate Punica Granatum
* Archangel: Angelica Angelica archangelica
* Artemis Herb: Mugwort Artemisia Vulgaris
* Ass’s Ear: Comfrey Symphytum Officinale -or- Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara
* Ass’s Foot: Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara
* An Eagle: Wild Garlic Allium sativum
* Auld Man’s Bells: Bluebells Scilla Nutans, Scilla non-scripta, Hyacinthoides non-scripta
B
* Bad Man’s Oatmeal: Hemlock Conium Maculatum
* Bastard: False or White Dittany Dictamnus Albus
* Bat’s Wings: Holly Ilex Aquifolium
* Beard of the Monk: Chicory Cichorium Intybus
* Bear’s Foot: Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla Vulgaris
* Bear’s Grape: Poke Root Phytolacca decandra -or- Uva Ursa Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi
* Bear’s Paw: Root Male Fern Dryopteris Felix-mas
* Bear’s Weed; Yerba Santa Eryodictyon californicum
* Beggar’s Buttons: Burdock Arctium Lappa
* Beggar’s Lice: Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale
* Bird’s Eye: Germander or Speedwell Teucrium chamaedrys
* Bird’s Foot: Fenugreek Trigonella Foenum-graecum
* Bird’s Nest: Indian Pipe Monotropa Uniflora
* Bishop’s Elder: Betony Stachys Officinalis, Betonica Officinalis, Stachys Betonica
* Bishop’s Leaves: Water Figwort Scrophularia Aquatica
* Bishop’s Wort: Betony Stachys Officinalis, Betonica Officinalis, Stachys Betonica
* Black Sampson: Echinacea Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea angustifolia
* Blind Eyes: Poppies Papaver Spp. & Somniferum
* Blood Elder: sap of Elder Sambucus Nigra
* Blood from a Head: Lupine Lupinus perennis, Lupinus polyphyllus
* Blood from a Shoulder: Bear’s Breach Acanthus spinosus
* Blood of Ares: Purslane Portulaca sativa
* Blood of a Goose: Milk of the Mulberry Tree Morus nigra
* Blood of a Snake: Hematite mineral form of Iron oxide (Fe2O3)
* Blood of an Eye: Tamarisk Gall Tamarix orientalis
* Blood of Ares: Purslane Portulaca Spp.
* Blood of Hephaistos: Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium
* Blood of Hestia: Chamomile Anthemis Nobilis
* Bloodwort: Yarrow Achillea Millefolium
* Bloody Butcher: Valerian Valeriana Officinalis
* Bloody Fingers: Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea, Digitalis Lanata
* Boy’s Love: Southernwood Artemisia Abrotanum
* Brain Thief: Mandrake Atropa Mandragora
* Bread and Cheese Tree: Hawthorne Crataegus oxyacantha
* Bride of the Meadow: Meadowsweet Eupatorium Purpureum
* Bride of the Sun: Calendula Calendula Officinalis
* Brown Dragon: Wake Robin Arisaema Triphyllum, Arum spp.
* Bull’s Blood: Horehound Marrubium Vulgare
* Bull’s Foot: Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara
* Bull’s Semen: Egg of a Blister Beetle beetles (Coleoptera) of the family Meloidae
* Burning Bush: White Dittany Dictamnus albus
* Buttons Tansy: Tanacetum Vulgare
C
* Calf’s Snout: Snapdragon Antirrhinum Magus
* Candelmas Maiden: Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis
* Candlewick Plant: Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* Capon’s Tail: Valerian Valeriana Officinalis
* Carpenter’s Herb: Sweet Bugle Lycopus Virginicus
* Carpetner’s Square: Knotted Figwort Scrophularia nodosa
* Cat: Catnip Nepta Cataria
* Cat’s Foot: White Balsam Gnaphalium polycephalum -or- Canada Snake Root Asarum Canadensis -or- Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea
* Cat’s Herb: Valerian Valeriana Officinalis
* Chameleon Star: Bromeliad Vriesia, Billbergia, Aechmae, Annanas, Bromelia, Guzmania, Cryptanthus, Neoreglia spps
* Cheeses: Marsh Mallow Althaea Officinalis
* Christ’s Eye: Vervain Sage Salvia Verbenaca
* Christ’s Ladder: Centaury Erythraea Centaurium
* Christ’s Spear: Adder’s Tongue Fern Ophioglossum Vulgatum
* Church Steeples: Agrimony Agrimonia Eupatoria, Agrimonia Gyposepala
* Chocolate Flower: Wild Geranium Geranium manculatum
* Clear Eye: Clary Sage Salvia sclarea
* Click: Goosegrass Galium aparine
* Clot: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* Colt’s Tail: Canadian Fleabane Erigeron Canadense
* Corpse Plant: Indian Pipe Monotropa Uniflora
* Cuddy’s Lungs: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
* Crane’s Bill: Wild Geranium Geraniaum Maculatum
* Crocodile Dung: Ethiopian Soil
* Crowdy Kit: Figwort Scrophularia nodosa
* Crow Foot: Wild Geranium Geraniaum Maculatum -or- Wood Anemone Anemone Nemorosa
* Crown for a King: Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium
* Cuckoo’s Bread: Common Plantain Plantago major
* Cucumber Tree: Magnolia Magnolia acuminata
D
* Dagger Flower: Blue Flag Iris versicolor
* Daphne: Laurel/Bay Laurus nobilis
* Dead Man’s Bells: Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea, Digitalis Lanata
* Death’s Herb: Belladonna Atropa belladonna
* Delight of the Eye: Rowan Sorbus Spp.
* Devil Plant: Sweet Basil Ocimum Basilicum
* Devil’s Apple: Mayapple Podophyllum peltaltum -or- Mandrake Atropa Mandragora
* Devil’s Beard: Houseleek Sempervivum tectorum
* Devil’s Bit; False Unicorn Root Chamaelirium luteum
* Devil’s Cherries: Belladonna Atropa belladonna
* Devils Dung: Asafoetida Ferula Foetida
* Devil’s Ear: Wake Robin Arisaema Triphyllum, Arum spp.
* Devil’s Eye: Henbane Hyoscyamus Niger -or- Periwinkle Vinca major, Vinca minor
* Devil’s Flower: Bachelor’s Buttons Centaurea cyanus
* Devil’s Fuge: Mistletoe Viscum Album
* Devil’s Guts: Dodder Cuscuta Europaea
* Devil’s Herb: Belladonna Atropa belladonna
*Devil’s Milk: Celandine Chelidonium Majus
*Devil’s Nettle: Yarrow Achillea Millefolium
* Devil’s Plaything: Yarrow Achillea Millefolium
*Devil’s Shoestring: Black Haw Vibrunum Prunifolium -or- Cramp Bark Viburnum opulus -or- Hobblebush Viburnum alnifolium -or- North American Goat’s Rue Tephrosia virginiana
* Dew of the Sea: Rosemary Rosemarinus Officinalis
* Dogberry: Brier Hips Rosa Canina
* Dog’s Mouth: Snap Dragon Antirrhinum Magus
* Dog’s Tongue: Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale
* Dove’s Foot: Wild Geranium Geraniaum Maculatum
* Dragon: Tarragon Artemisia Dracunculus -May also be a reference to Ash
* Dragon Flower: Blue Flag Iris versicolor
* Dragon Wort: Bistort Polygonum Bistorta
* Dragon’s Blood: Calamus Acorus calamus
* Dragon’s Teeth: Blue Vervain Verbena Officinalis
* Drunkard: Calendula Calendula Officinalis
* Duck’s Foot: Mayapple Podophyllum peltaltum
* Dulcamara: Woody Nightshade Celastrus scandens
* Dwale: Deadly Nightshade Atropa Belladonna