scorpion grass
A plant of the genus Myosotis; the forget-me-not or mouse-ear. Also with qualifying words, denoting particular species or varieties.
Lyte and some other botanists assign the name to Scorpiurus sulcatus (‘scorpion's tail’), ‘with which various species of Myosotis are associated’ (Britten & Holland).
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xlii. 61 Bysides these two kindes of Scorpioides, there is yet twoo other small herbes whiche some do also name Scorpion grasse, or Scorpion worte. 1608 Topsell Serpents 254 To this end they doe prescribe Bay⁓berries, Scorpion-grasse [etc.]. 1690 Ray Synopsis Meth. Stirpium (1724) 229 Mouse-ear Scorpion-grass. c 1710 Petiver Cat. Ray's Eng. Herbal Tab. xxix, Water Scorpion-grass, Field Scorpion-grass, Small Scorpion-grass. 1763 Miller Gardener's Dict. (ed. 8) Index, Scorpion-grass, or Caterpillar, see Scorpiurus. 1833 Proc. Berw. Nat. Club I. No. i. 29 Myosotis sylvatica—Wood Scorpion-grass. 1865 Gosse Land & Sea (1874) 235 The early scorpion-grass or hill forget-me-not. |