Narcissus - "Egotism." "Self-love." According to legend, this pretty flower was once a handsome youth named Narcissus, who became so enamoured of his own reflection in a fountain, and, mistaking it for the nymph of the water, sprang into the spring and was drowned. Another version is that, tantalised by the fact that the image ever eluded his grasp, he pined away and died. When the nymphs came to take up his body, they found only a lovely flower. An elaboration of this story tells how Echo, the fair daughter of the Air, fell in love with Narcissus, but finding her affection unrequited, pined away into a mere voice.

Narcissus (double) - "Feminine ambition."

Nasturtium - "Patriotism."

Nettle (common stinging) - "You are cruel."

Nettle (dead) - "I will not hurt you." This white-flowering nettle, often called "dead" nettle, is stingless.

Nightshade - "Falsehood."

Oak-leaves - "Bravery." Old Man - "Jest." Oleander - "Beware." Olive - "Peace."

Peppermint - "Warmth of feeling."

Periwinkle (blue) - "Early friendship." Another name for this pretty blue flower is the

"Sorcerer's violet," or, as the French call it,

"Violette des sorciers," and the Italians

"Centocchio" (Hundred eyes). Formerly it was in great request for making "charms" with, and one quaint old phrase still lingers:

"The leaves of the periwinkle eaten by man and wife do cause them to love each other."

Periwinkle (white) - "Pleasures of memory," or

"tender recollections."

Petunia - "Never despair." Here again, like heliotrope, the name of the flower has given us an adjective of colour.

Pheasant's-eye - "Remembrance." A species of narcissus.

Phlox - "Unanimity."

Pimpernel - "Change," "assignation." The tiny scarlet pimpernel has gathered round it much weather-lore and legend. From its habit of closing its blossoms about two o'clock, it has gained the title of "shepherd's clock," and on account of its closing before a shower, the name of "poor man's weather glass," or "shepherd's weather glass." If in the morning the flowers of the pimpernel are widely expanded, country folk say, "No rain to-day," but if the petals remain closed, rain will certainly come. This "herb pimpernel" was also good to prevent witchcraft, and much used medicinally.

Pine Spruce - "Hope in adversity."

Pink - "Boldness." The flower is so-called because the edges of the petals are pinked or notched.

Pink (Indian double) - "Always lovely."

Pink (Indian single) - "Aversion."

Pink (mountain) - "Aspiring."

Pink (red, double) - "Pure and ardent love."

Pink (single) - "Pure love."

Pink (variegated) - "Refusal."

Pink (white) - "Ingeniousness," "talent."

Polyanthus - "Pride of riches."

Polyanthus (crimson) - "The heart's mystery."

Polyanthus (lilac) - "Confidence."

Pomegranate Flower - "Mature elegance." When Ceres's daughter Proserpine was carried away by Pluto, the nymph Arethusa informed the distracted mother of her hiding-place, and in answer to Ceres's entreaties, Pluto agreed to restore her, provided she had not eaten anything during her stay in the underworld. But, unfortunately, she had partaken of some pomegranate seeds, so that she was compelled to return thither for half of each year, during which time Ceres neglected the earth, and thus created the winter.

Poppy (Oriental) - "Silence."

Poppy (red) - "Consolation."

Poppy (scarlet) - "Fantastic extravagance," also "comfort." The juice of the poppy is a powerful narcotic, and the ancients, who regarded sleep as the healer of all sorrows, and the chief comforter of the world, depicted him adorned in one way only - wearing a wreath of poppies.

Poppy (white) - "Sleep." From this come opium and laudanum. The Greeks attributed the birth of the poppy to Ceres who, well-nigh distraught at the loss of her daughter Proserpine, who had been carried off by Pluto, created the poppy with its somniferous power, that by partaking of it she might obtain oblivion and forgetfulness of her grief. Night and Death, as well as Sleep, are represented as crowned with poppies.

Primrose - "Early youth and sadness." Primrose (evening) - "Inconstancy." Primrose (red) - "Unpatronised merit." Primula - "Diffidence." Privet - "Prohibition." Purple Clover - "Provident."

Pyrethrum - "I am not changed, they wrong me." Pyrus Japonica - "Fairies' fire."

Quaking Grass - "Agitation." Commonly called "totty grass," or "ladies' hair."

Queen's Rocket - "You are the queen of coquettes" "fashion."

Quince - "Temptation."