The Clare Music Wars

‘Many plants have gained a notoriety from their connection
with fairyland, and although the belief in this romantic
source of superstition has almost died out, yet it has left
its traces in the numerous legends which have survived
amongst us. Thus the delicate white flowers of the
wood-sorrel are known in Wales as “fairy bells,”
from a belief once current that these tiny beings were
summoned to their moonlight revels and gambols
by these bells. In Ireland they were supposed to ride to
their scenes of merrymaking on the ragwort, hence
known as the “fairies’ horse.’

From The Folklore of Plants, T.F. THISELTON-DYER (1889)

’ He pointed at some birds near the window
and his countenance changed for a moment.

I watched him whip the top off some ragwort
with his blackthorn stick.
“Senecio Jacobea” he shouted
and I thought about making excuses to leave.’