Harebottle

/ˈhɛrˌbɑtəl/ noun

Definition

A plant of the genus Legousia with bottle-shaped seed pods, also known as Venus's looking-glass or corn catchfly.

Etymology

From 'hare' (Old English hara) + 'bottle' (Old French botelle, from Latin butticula). The folk name refers to the pod's resemblance to a bottle, possibly with 'hare' referencing habitats where hares frequent.

Kelly Says

Harebottle's elegant seed pods look like tiny glass bottles crafted by a jeweler, yet the plant is a sneaky agricultural pest that somehow convinced medieval farmers it was charming enough to tolerate in their grain fields.

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