Ty p h a ceae
Typha latifolia Linnaeus
great reedmace
most of northern hemisphere, South America
Supplying a toothache remedy in an unidentified part of Ireland,^47 Typha
latifolia was once also in high repute as a cure for epilepsy in the south-west-
ern Highlands, under a Gaelic name translating as ‘fairy wives’ spindle’. Evi-
dently more of a charm, though, than a medicine, it was held to be most
potent if gathered at Midsummer midnight (with a prescribed ritual) before
being wrapped in a shroud—for keeping a dead stem and root of the plant in
‘dead-clothes’ ensured freedom from every ailment for the rest of one’s life.^48
Liliaceae
Narthecium ossifragum (Linnaeus) Hudson
bog asphodel
Atlantic Europe, allied species in North America
Under the name limerik, Narthecium ossifragum was formerly used in Shet-
land as a substitute for ‘saffron’ (see the following), standing in for that med-
icinally as well as a dye.^49
Colchicum autumnale Linnaeus
meadow saffron
central and south-eastern Europe; introduced into North America,
New Zealand
Crocus sativus Linnaeus
saffron crocus
horticultural
Crocus vernus (Linnaeus) Hill
spring crocus
south-eastern Europe; introduced into North America
The word saffron is a potential source of much confusion. Most Irish folk
cures apparently mean by it sheep droppings, records of it as an abortifacient
are based on mishearings of ‘savin’, i.e. juniper,^50 and even when correctly
applied herbally it can mean any of three species: the saffron crocus (Crocus
sativus,of the family Iridaceae), once extensively grown as a crop in East
Anglia, the spring crocus (C. vernus), anciently a stand-in for that in the
Pondweeds, Grasses, Lilies and Orchids 325