-smocks, and there a girl
cropping Culverkeys and Cowslips."[134:2]

There is a double variety of the Lady-smock which makes a handsome
garden plant, and there is a remarkable botanical curiosity connected
with the plant which should be noticed. The plant often produces in the
autumn small plants upon the leaves, and by the means of these little
parasites the plant is increased, and even if the leaves are detached
from the plant, and laid upon moist congenial soil, young plants will be
produced. This is a process that is well known to gardeners in the
propagation of Begonias, and it is familiar to us in the proliferous
Ferns, where young plants are produced on the surface or tips of the
fronds; and Dr. Masters records "the same condition as a teratological
occurrence in the leaves of Hyacinthus Pouzolsii, Drosera intermedia,
Arabis pumila, Chelidonum majus, Chirita Sinensis, Epicia bicolor,
Zamia, &c."--_Vegetable Teratology_, p. 170.

FOOTNOTES:

[134:1] "Ladies-smock.--A kind of water cresses, of whose virtue it
partakes; and it is otherwise called Cuckoo-flower."--PHILLIPS, _World
of Words_, 1696.

[134:2] Culverkeys is mentioned in Dennis' "Secrets of Angling" as a
meadow flower: "pale Ganderglas, and azor Culverkayes." It is also
mentioned by Aubrey, in his "Natural History of Wilts;" but the name is
found in no other writer, and is now extinct. It is difficult to say
what plant is meant; many have been suggested: the Columbine, the Meadow
Orchis, the Bluebell, &c. I think it must be the Meadow Geranium, which
is certainly "azor" almost beyond any other British plant. "Culver" is a
dove or pigeon, and "keyes" or "kayes" are the seeds of a plant, and the
seeds of the Geranium were all likened to the claws of birds, so that
our British species is called G. columbinum.

LARK'S HEELS.

Larks heels trim.

_Two Noble Kinsmen_, Introd. song.

Lark's heels is one of the many names of the Garden Delphinium,
otherwise called Larkspur, Larksclaw, Larkstoes.

LAUREL.

(1) _Clarence._

To whom the heavens in thy nativity
Adjudged an Olive branch and Laurel crown
As likely to be blest in peace and war.

_3rd Henry VI_, act iv, sc. 6 (33).

(2) _Titus._

Cometh Andronicus bound with Laurel boughs.

_Titus Andronicus_, act i, sc. 1 (74).

(3) _Cleopatra._