It was often combined into names for herbs and plants that were used medicinally.
Sometimes, the first part of the common name was based on the resemblance of a plant to a part of the human body and in turn — incorrectly — considered a useful cure for ailments of the same body part.
This theory was called the "Doctrine of Signatures". A theological justification was that God would have wanted to show men what plants would be useful for.
Examples of this theory are the lungwort, Pulmonaria. Its dark green leaves often have a mottled pattern of silver or white which were thought to look like a diseased lung and therefore useful to this organ.
There is the difficult weed Ficaria verna, or lesser celandine, that is also known as pilewort. It is a name given in reference to its roots that form dense clusters of thick light-coloured tubers with patches of short fibrous roots. It is easy to see why it received the common name pilewort and the belief it could treat piles or haemorrhoids. Other plants are also called pilewort, supposedly with the same attributes.
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis, was apparently named in reference to its flower buds’ resemblance to nipples. It was used during the 17th century to treat cracked nipples and ulcerated breasts.
Worts are everywhere in the garden, but there is no scientific evidence to show that the look of a plant assists in the care of that body part.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Marianne Groothuis
