Ratzenschwantz

[EllieV]

Are you sure this doesn't say Katzenschwantz (cat's tail)? And Ratz can also mean polecat, but I think rat makes more sense here.

Thanks so much. It could be Katzenschwantz . I can't make the initial very well. The thing is - the VMs plant could be pasque-flower and the root may represent the whip used on Good Friday in the scourging of Christ. So I always thought this root may be a whip. There are cat's tail whips, rat's tail whips etc.