bān-wyrt

Old-English: banewyrt, banvyrt, banwert, banwyrt, banwurt,

Latin (Machine generated): CENTAUREA MINOR, CONSOLDA, FILA AUROSA, FILIA AURISA, SWIGE, UIOLA AUROSA ET UIOLA PURPUREA, VIOLA, [UIO]LA AUROSA,

• →wyrt;

• A: plant: native
  Bellis perennis L., daisy, Gänseblümchen
• B: plant: native
  Centaurium erythraea Rafn., common centaury, Echtes Tausendgüldenkraut
• C: plant: native
  Symphytum officinale L., common comfrey, Arznei-Beinwell
• D: plant
  -, violet, some kind of ~, or a similar plant, Veilchen-Art oder eine ähnliche Pflanze

• Comment on (A): Bellis perennis L., daisy, Gänseblümchen

  The various attempts at identifying OE bānwyrt date from several different glosses and a description in HA, CLXV that does not match the glossary evidence. Bellis perennis can be deduced from ME evidence (also cf. Hunt 1989, s.v. CONSOLIDA, CONSOLIDA MEDIA, CONSOLIDA MINOR). This is supported through the fact that the LB seems to differentiate between a 'major and minor bone-wort' as this reference indicates: sio greate banwyrt (LB, 96/10). In the LB bānwyrt is used in two remedies for fractures: in 8/3-8 and 21/16ff (here the only herbal ingredient). Also cf. Brodin (1950,148): "CONSOLIDA MINOR is an herbe þat men clepe þe lesse dayeseye ar bryswort ar bonwourtis" and (Brodin 1950,260) "CONSOLIDA MINOR = Bel­lis perennis." Also cf. Pritzel (1882,55): "Bellis perennis L. mittelalt. CONSOLIDA MINOR oder MINIMA [...] klein Beinwellen". Also cf. →dæges-ēage. If the identification is not B. perennis, Symphytum officinale L., common comfrey, Arznei-Beinwell has to be preferred. Deegan (1988,225) accepts B. perennis as one possible identification; also cf. our meaning D.

  The L name CONSOLIDA (L, SOLIDUS, 'dense, consolitated; dicht, fest') equates the Gk σύμφυτο (from συμφύειν 'grow together, zusammenwachsen'), which in Antiquity denotes several plants that aid the healing of bone fractures (cf. Hegi 1906,V, 2220).

• Comment on (B): Centaurium erythraea Rafn., common centaury, Echtes Tausendgüldenkraut

  For the gloss AntK 119,16 an identification with C. erythraea is possible, especially as a plant with multi-blossom florescenc is indicated. In the LB this identification can be ruled out because definitely identified OE names denoting C. erythraea (cf. →centaurie, →eorþ-gealla) occur along with bānwyrt in several recepies (e.g. 8/10: centaurian, 21/15: eorþgeallan).

• Comment on (C): Symphytum officinale L., common comfrey, Arznei-Beinwell

  CONSOLIDA and CONSOLIDA MAIOR are generally identifyed with S. officinale. Cf. Lindheim (1941,128) and the respective note; also cf. Brodin (1950,147): "CONSOLIDA MAIOR is an herbe men clepe dayessye or conforye" and (Brodin 1950,260: CONSOLIDA MAIOR = Symphytum officinale).

• Comment on (D): -, violet, some kind of ~, or a similar plant, Veilchen-Art oder eine ähnliche Pflanze

  The source for HA, CLXV is Dioscorides III,138 (Berendes 1902,345), where he describes Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz, wallflower, Goldlack (= UIOLA AUROSA, cf. André 1985, s.v. VIOLA) and Matthiola incana (L.) R.Br., hoary stock, Garten-Levkoje (= UIOLA PURPUREA, cf. André, s.v. VIOLA), both not native to England.[1]

  For L VIOLA cf. Lindheim (1941,334 and n.): "Das lat. VIOLA be­zeichnet nicht nur unser 'Veilchen', sondern eine ganze Anzahl duftender Blumen." (L VIOLA not only denotes 'viola', but a broad range of fragrant flowers.) Also cf. Förster (1917,138, n.2) and Laud 1506 including Stracke's note. De Vriend (1984,324) wrongly refers to Bierbaumer (1976, s.v.; Viola tricolor L.) and to Cockayne (Viola lutea L.), which is also suggested by Olds (1984,174). Hankins (1992, 220) has Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz, following Storms (1948,320) but also provides an identification of her own (1992,98): Eupatorium perfoliatum L. (boneset, Durchwachsener Wasserdost). She bases this identification on the modern plant name 'boneset' and its frequent use in the 18th century; unfortunately this plant is native to North America (Zander 2008,392). Deegan (1988,225) suggests Viola tricolor L., heart's ease, wild pansy (Gewöhnliches Wildes Stiefmütterschen) and our meaing A. D'Aronco (1998,54) prefers Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz for the HA entry; Van Arsdall (2002,221) wrongly refers to Bierbaumer (cf. deVriend 1984,324). Pollington (2000,103) suggests "possibly violet" or 'small knapweed' (Centaurea L., Flockenblume), follwing Clark Hall. Pettit (2001,vol.2,XXXIV,154) refers to Hunt and suggests the identification of the DOE: 'wild (?or mountain) pansy' but in his glossary (2001,I,215) he also provides the identification '(?) Ruscus aculeatus L., butcher's broom (Stacheliger Mäusedorn)' along with all of our identifications but gives no detailed explanation.