Pignut/Harenut

[ChrisJB]

Yesterday evening I harked back to my childhood and dug up a 'harenut' (pignut). This got me thinking. Does anyone else call them harenuts? I had a look in my Flora Britannica and this local name doesn't feature in it at all. In fact the only reason I call them harenuts is because my late granddad and my mum called them that when I was a lad.

Regards, Chris

[Tiggrx]

I've not heard the name Harenut before but a quick look in "The Englishman's Flora" by Geoffrey Grigson shows it as a local name in Dorset and Lancashire.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I've not heard the name Harenut before but a quick look in "The Englishman's Flora" by Geoffrey Grigson shows it as a local name in Dorset and Lancashire.

Brilliant. Thank you. What I find interesting now is that two counties so far apart should use the same name. I like the sound of your book as well.

Regards, Chris

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

Brilliant. Thank you. What I find interesting now is that two counties so far apart should use the same name.

this may be that the name was more widespread but reports of it only came from those two areas. Or perhaps, someone moved from one county to another and took the name with them

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I like the sound of your book as well.

My copy is falling to pieces from too much flicking through

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Or perhaps, someone moved from one county to another and took the name with them

Hmm. I am aware of a local naturalist/archaeologist/historian called H. Colley-March who moved from my neck of the woods to Dorset at the turn of the 20th century. You never know, it might be his doing!

Regards, Chris

[Keith33]

Hi, I have seen so many Harenut/pignut flowers recently that it sent me back to my childhood, when we used to dig them up, and, I think, eat them. I lived in Rochdale Lancashire. I wonder if they are any relation to the much valued truffles. I am new to using sites like this, so please forgive any transgressions.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Keith33

Hi, I have seen so many Harenut/pignut flowers recently that it sent me back to my childhood, when we used to dig them up, and, I think, eat them. I lived in Rochdale Lancashire. I wonder if they are any relation to the much valued truffles. I am new to using sites like this, so please forgive any transgressions.

Welcome to WAB.

Pignuts are no relation at all to truffles, sadly, though truffle is a local name in Inverness (says Mr Grigson). Truffles are a fungus, pignuts are the tubers of a flowering plant. As far as I know, truffles are not reputed to give you lice.

henrya