Anyone seen a ferny hoolet?

[Mr Mag00]

Fly Agaric is also known as Shamans Bridge. I did write some more but after what has happened today I deleted it.

you cant put that little snippet out there and not expect an inquizative audience????

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Another interesting book which covers the names & folklore of plants is "The Englishman's Flora" by Geoffrey Grigson - one of my favourite books.

Sounds good I must look out for it.

I love the myths and legends and beliefs surrounding plants too. Our ancestors had a much closer and more intense relationship with plants and their natural surroundings. Can't help we've lost something there.

It reminds me of the kids on Jamie Oliver's attemps to get wholesome food back into School Dinners. So many of them couldn't even name common vegatables. But I digress, thats another story.

[Jonny]

Food for free by Richard Mabey has a lot of local names for plants too, make you laugh don't they.........

[eeyore]

In dorset they call the early purple orchid , Grandfathers giggles - no idea why

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by Jonny

Food for free by Richard Mabey has a lot of local names for plants too, make you laugh don't they.........

They do

Originally Posted by eeyore

In dorset they call the early purple orchid , Grandfathers giggles - no idea why

Someones Grandfather certainly thought so too
Love that one, thanks eeyore, thats gonna be one of my favourites now

[Mr Mag00]

Eeyore when were you in Dorset, where and for whom, if i may be so bold as to ask??

[eeyore]

I used to be a countryside contractor - self employed working out of blandford forum , did a lot of work on arne grange , hod hill, warmwell heath, pepperbox hill (hants), holton heath, and three leged cross.

I went out of business as a result of foot and mouth in 2001

[Deer Stalker]

I think Lords & Lady's Arum maculatum has the most, with about 100 common names.

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Sheryl LaBouchardiere

Hehe, its one of the 'old names' for the Tawny Owl. Don't you just love it? I'm fasinated by all the old names for our wild animals and plants. Here are a few more examples:

• Bird's Foot Trefoil - Eggs-and-Bacon / Hens and Chickens / Dutchman's Clogs
• Columbine - Granny's Night-cap / Granny's Bonnet
• Deadly Nightshade - Devil's Herb* / Enchanter's Nightshade* / Sorcerer's Herb*
• Goat's-beard - Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon (love that one )
• Foxglove - Dead Man's Bells* / Fairy Thimbles* / Witches Thimbles*

* denotes really old ones source

Anybody know any other good ones?

I like the one for Goatsbeard on your source.................

[Deer Stalker]

The one I like telling people for Birds Foot Trefoil is Granny's Toenails.