Part 76 (1/2)

There is no certain record how long the Plane has been introduced into England; it is certainly not a native tree, nor even an European tree, but came from the East, and was largely planted and much admired both by the Greeks and Romans. We know from Pliny that it was growing in France in his day on the part opposite Britain, and the name occurs in the old vocabularies. But from Turner's evidence in 1548 it must have been a very scarce tree in the sixteenth century. He says: ”I never saw any Plaine tree in Englande, saving once in Northumberlande besyde Morpeth, and an other at Barnwell Abbey besyde Cambryge.” And more than a hundred years later Evelyn records a special visit to Lee to inspect one as a great curiosity. The Plane is not only a very handsome tree, and a fast grower, but from the fact that it yearly sheds its bark it has become one of the most useful trees for growing in towns. The wood is of very little value. To the emblem writers the Plane was an example of something good to the eye, but of no real use. Camerarius so moralizes it (Pl. xix.), and, quoting Virgil's ”steriles platanos,” he says of it, ”umbram non fructum plata.n.u.s dat.”

PLANTAIN.

(1) _Costard._

O sir, Plantain, a plain Plantain! no l'envoy, no l'envoy; no salve, sir, but a Plantain.

_Moth._

By saying that a costard was broken in a s.h.i.+n.

Then call'd you for the l'envoy.

_Costard._

True! and I for a Plantain.

_Loves Labour's Lost_, act iii, sc. 1 (76).

(2) _Romeo._

Your Plantain leaf is excellent for that.

_Benvolio._

For what, I pray thee?

_Romeo._

For your broken s.h.i.+n.

_Romeo and Juliet_, act i, sc. 2 (52).

(3) _Troilus._

As true as steel, as Plantage to the moon.

_Troilus and Cressida_, act iii, sc. 2 (184).

(4) _Palamon._

These poore slight sores Neede not a Plantin.

_Two n.o.ble Kinsmen_, act i, sc. 2 (65).

The most common old names for the Plantain were Waybroad (corrupted to Weybread, Wayborn, and Wayforn) and Ribwort. It was also called Lamb's-tongue and Kemps, while the flower spike with the stalk was called c.o.c.ks and c.o.c.kfighters (still so called by children).[214:1] The old name of Ribwort was derived from the ribbed leaves, while Waybroad marked its universal appearance, scattered by all roadsides and pathways, and literally bred by the wayside. It has a similar name in German, Wegetritt, that is Waytread; and on this account the Swedes name the plant Wagbredblad, and the Indians of North America Whiteman's Foot, for it springs up near every new settlement, having sprung up after the English settlers, not only in America, but also in Australia and New Zealand--