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cures mflammatiotr of the eyes. Jupiter's Staff is the Mullein
(Veriasmm Thapms). Jupiter's Distaff is the Yellow Clary (Sdviu
gUimsa). Gerarde thus describes it: “ Jovis Coins representeth in
the highest top of the stalk a distaffe, wrapped about with yellow
Fla x , whereof It took its name.” The Couch of Jupiter and Juno
was formed of the blossoms of Lotus, L ily . Hyacinth, Crocus, and
Asphodel.
.. k a i l . -W riting of the Cabbage or Colewort, Gerarde tells
us the apothecaries and the common herbalists do call it Caulis,
of th^e goodnesse of the stalke.” The old English name Cole and
the Scotch Kail are both derived from this Latin word Caulis, a
stalk. In Scotland, it is a custom on Hallowe’en for the young
people, after being duly blindfolded, to go forth into the Kail-vard
or garden, and pull the first stalk they meet with. Returning tè
the fireside, they determine, according as the stalk is big or little
straight or crooked, what the future wife or husband will be Thé
quantity of earth adhering to the root is emblematic of the dowry
to be expedted, and the temper is indicated by the sweet or bitter
taste of the motoc or pith. Lastly, the stalks are placed in order
over the door, and the Christian names of persons afterwards
entering the house signify in the same order those of the wives and
nusbands tnfutuns.
The Kataka (Strychnos potatorum) is an East
Indian plant, the seeds of which are sold in the bazaars for the
purpose of cleansing muddy water, &c. The vessel containing the
water, milk, &c., is first rubbed round the inside for a minute or
two with one of the seeds, after which, by allowing the liquid to
settle for a short time, however impure it may have been before it
becomes clean The confidence of the superstitious Hindus in this
property of the Kataka became so great, that in course of time
th^^ ignorantly thought the mere name of Kataka would be
sufficient to cleanse water. It became, therefore, necessary to
state in one of their Codes that although the seeds of the Kataka
purify water, its name alone was insufficient for that purpose
K + O W E R . - T h e has
been called Katharine s or St. Katherine's-flower, from the persis-
tout styles spreading like the spokes of a wheel, the symbol of St
Katharine, who was martyred upon a wheel. As regards the seed
of this plant Gerarde tells us that if dried, powdered, and wrapped
in a piece of fine lawn or sarcenet, it “ cureth all murs, ca ta rrL s.
rheumes, and the pose, dneth the brame, and restoreth the sence
of smelling unto those which have lost it, being often smelled unto
irom day to day, and made warme at the fire when it is used ”_____
of Fennel-flower, Bishop’s'-wort,
Cld Man s Beard, and Kiss-me-twice-before-I-rise.
{Mimusops Ekngi) is an Indian tree
sacred to Krishna. According to Jones, the fiowers of the Kesarq,
ornament conspicuously the Garden of Paradise. An odoriferous
water is distilled from the fiowers, and the bark is used medicinally.
K E R N E L -W O R T .—The Scrophularia nodosa has obtained the
name of Kernel-wort, from its having kernels or tubers attached to
its roots, and, therefore, as Gerarde remarks, “ it is reported to be
a remedy against those diseases whereof it tooke his name.” It
appears to have been more particularly employed as a cure for the
King’s-evil ; but the old herbalist tells us that “ divers do rashly
teach that if it be hanged about the necke, or else carried about
one, it keepeth a man in health.”
K E R Z E R E H .—The Kerzrah,or Kerzereh, is the name of an
Eastern fiower, the odour of which would seem to have deadly properties.
It is well known in Persia, and there, it is commonly said,
that if a man inhale the hot south-wind, which in June or July
passes over the Kerzereh-fiowers, it will undoubtedly kill him.
K E T A K I .—The Indian name of the Screw Pine, Pandanus
odoratissimus, is Ketaki, the male and female fiowers of which are
borne on separate trees. The male fiowers are dried, and are then
much in vogue as a scent by Indian ladies. These fiowers are said
by the native poets to be dear to the god Siva ; and so exquisite is
their perfume, that the bee, intoxicated by it, mistakes the golden
blossom for a beauteous nymph, and, blinded with passion, loses its
wings.
K IN G ’ S C U P .—The Buttercup (Panunculus hulhosus) is also
called King’s Cup, from the resemblance of its buds to a gold stud
such as Kings wore. This fiower was dedicated in mediæval times
to the Virgin Mary, and is the Mary-bud alluded to by Shakspeare
in ‘ Cymbeline ’—
“ And twinkling Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes.”
Kiss-me-ere-i-rise.— See Pansy.
K is s me-twice-before-i-rise.—See Katharine’s Flower.
K n ig h t ’s Sp u r s .—See Larkspur.
K N O T G R A S S .—The Centinode, or Knot Grass {Polygonum
aviculare) derives its name from the knottiness of its stem and its
Grass-like leaves. In ‘ A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ Shakspeare
refers to this plant as “ the hindering Knotgrass,” because its
deco6fion was, in olden times, believed to be efficacious in stopping
or retarding the growth of children, as well as of the young of
domestic animals. Thus, in Beaumont and Fletcher’s ‘ Coxcomb,’
we read:—
“ We want a boy,
Kept under for a year with milk and Knotgrass.”
Gerarde says that “ it is given unto swine with good success when
they are sick, and will not eat their meat, whereupon country
people do call it Swine’s-grass or Swine’s-skir.”
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