TO WHAT NEW-ZEALAND PLANT DOES THE VERNACULAR SCURVY GRASS REFER

The term ''scurvy grass'' is used widely in New Zealand as a vernacula r for the formerly widespread brassicaceous herb Lepidium oleraceum. W e show that historical usage of this vernacular was not necessarily co nfined to this species or genus, thereby illustrating the need for cau tion in using historical accounts to help determine past abundance, ec ology, and distribution.