Q Who was the Morris of Morris dancing and what was the origin of this peculiar dance? - Doug McKenna, Stockton.

A Morris dances were country dances traditionally performed in the North of England on days like May Day and Whit Sunday. Some scholars believe the Morris dance portrays ancient fertility rites. However, the usual theory is that Morris dancing was brought to England in the 14th Century by John of Gaunt on his return from Spain. It was believed to be a military dance of the Moors, a Muslim people of southern Spain who originated from Morocco and who were also known as Moriscos.

Moriscos gave rise to the word Morris in Morris dancing. The dance involved jingling bells and swords, very much like the traditional dance of today. Dances involved five men and a boy who wore a headpiece called a Morione. This was later called a Mad Morione and the boy came to be known as Maid Marian, perhaps named after Matilda Fitz-Walter, the daughter of a baron, who eloped with an outlaw and lived in Sherwood Forest. Of course, this also connects with the story of Robin Hood.

Robin Hood is also a traditional name for one of the dancers, others being Hobby Horse and Bavian, or the fool.

Following the great response to the tiger nut question, I have had some information on the pig-nuts mentioned by Mary Dawson, of Glaisdale, in a recent Burning Question. Jack Straw, of Seaham, remembers digging up these nuts as a boy. He recalls a plant with feathery foliage and clusters of small white flowers. Mr Shaw suggests that these edible root tubers may belong to an umbelliferous plant known by the Latin name conopodium flescuosum but believes they are also known as pignut, arnut, and earthnut.

Earthnut seems to be one of the most widely used names for these plants, but other names are lucy arnut, kippernut, hawknut, jarnut, earth chestnut and groundnut. Mary Dawson remembered them as yennets and it would be interesting to know if this was purely a local term. Mr Shaw is probably correct to identify the plant with the Latin name conopodium flescuosum, although I understand the official Latin name for the plant is conopodium majus.

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail david.simpson@nne.co.uk