Chapter I: Preface

Having, some few years ago, been associated in the conduct of a journal devoted to horticulture, I amassed for literary purposes much of the material made use of in the present volume. Upon the discontinuance of the journal, I resolved to classify and arrange the plant lore thus accumulated, with a view to its subsequent publication, and I have since been enabled to enrich the collection with much Continental and Indian lore (which I believe is quite unknown to the great majority of English readers) from the vast store to be found in Signor De Gubernatis’ volumes on plant tradition, a French edition of which appeared two years ago, under the title of _La Mythologie des Plantes_. To render the present work comprehensive and at the same time easy of reference, I have divided the volume into two sections, the first of which is, in point of fact, a digest of the second; and I have endeavoured to enhance its interest by introducing some few reproductions of curious illustrations pertaining to the subjects treated of. Whilst preferring no claim for anything beyond the exercise of considerable industry, I would state that great care and attention has been paid to the revision of the work, and that as I am both author and printer of my book, I am debarred in that dual capacity from even palliating my mistakes by describing them as “errors of the press.” In tendering my acknowledgments to Prof. De Gubernatis and other authors I have consulted on the various branches of my subject, I would draw attention to the annexed list of the principal works to which reference is made in these pages.

RICHARD FOLKARD, Jun.

Cricklewood, _August, 1884_.

Principal Works Referred to.

_Adams, H. C._ ‘Flowers; their Moral, Language, and Poetry.’

_Albertus Magnus._ _De Mirabilibus Mundi._

_Aldrovandus._ _Ornithologia._

_Bacon, Lord._ ‘_Sylva Sylvarum_,’ and ‘Essay on Gardens.’

_Bauhin, C._ _De plantis a divis sanctisve nomen habentibus_ (1591).

_Brand, J._ ‘Popular Antiquities.’

_Bright, H. A._ ‘A Year in a Lancashire Garden.’

_Campbell, J. F._ ‘Tales of the Western Highlands.’

‘Choice Notes from _Notes and Queries_.’

_Coles, W._ ‘Adam in Eden’ (1657); and ‘The Art of Simpling’ (1656).

‘The Compleat English Gardener’ (1683).

‘The Countryman’s Recreation’ (1640).

_Croker, T. C._ ‘Fairy Legends of the South of Ireland.’

_Culpeper, N._ ‘British Herbal.’

_Cutts, Rev. E._ ‘Decoration of Churches.’

_Darwin, E._ ‘The Botanic Garden’: a Poem.

_Dasent, Sir G. W._ ‘Popular Tales from the Norse.’

_Daubeny, C._ ‘Trees and Shrubs of the Ancients.’

_Day, Rev. Lal Behari._ ‘Folk-Tales of Bengal.’

_De Gubernatis, A._ _La Mythologie des Plantes; ou les Légendes du Règne Végétal._

_Dixon, W. G._ ‘The Land of the Morning: Japan.’

‘The Dutch Gardener’ (1703).

_Dyer, Rev. T. F._ ‘English Folk-lore.’

_Ennemoser, J._ ‘History of Magic.’

_Evelyn, J._ ‘_Sylva_: a Discourse of Forest Trees’ (1662); ‘The French Gardener’ (1658); and ‘_Kalendarium Hortense_’ (1664).

‘The Expert Gardener’ (1640).

‘The Fairy Family.’

_Farrer, J. A._ ‘The Names of Flowers’ (In ‘Cornhill Magazine,’ Vol. XLV.).

_Fitzherbarde, Sir Anthony._ ‘Boke of Husbandry’ (1523).

_Fleetwood, Bishop._ ‘Curiosities of Nature and Art in Husbandry and Gardening’ (1707).

‘Flower Lore’ (M’Caw & Co., Belfast).

_Gerarde, J._ ‘The Herbal; or, General Historie of Plantes.’ Edited by Johnson (1633).

_Grimm, J._ ‘Teutonic Mythology’ (Translated by Stallybrass.)

_Henderson, W._ ‘Folk-lore of the Northern Counties.’

_Hunt, R._ ‘Popular Romances of the West of England.’

_Ingram, J._ ‘_Flora Symbolica_.’

_Jameson, Mrs._ ‘Sacred and Legendary Art’; ‘Legends of the Monastic Orders’; and ‘Legends of the Madonna.’

_Karr, Alphonse._ ‘A Tour Round my Garden.’

_Kelly, W. K._ ‘Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore.’

_Kent, Miss._ ‘_Flora Domestica_,’ and ‘Sylvan Sketches.’

_King, R. J._ ‘Sketches and Studies.’

_Kircherus._ _De Luce et Umbra, Ars Magnetica, &c._

‘The Language of Flowers’ (Saunders and Otley).

_Liger, Louis._ ‘The Retired Gardener’ (1717).

_Loudon, J. C._ ‘Encyclopædia of Gardening.’

_Loudon, Mrs._ ‘Companion to the Flower Garden.’

_Macer Floridus._ _De Viribus Herbarum_ (1527).

_Mallet, M._ ‘Northern Antiquities.’

_Mannhardt, Prof._ _Baumkultus der Germanen_; _Germanische Mythen_; and _Wald- und Feld-Kulte_.

_Marmier, X._ _Légendes des Plantes._

_Marshall, S._ ‘Plant Symbolism’ (In ‘Natural History Notes,’ Vol. II.).

_Martyn, Thos._ ‘Miller’s Gardener’s and Botanist’s Dictionary.’

_Matthiolus._ _De Plantis_ (1585).

_Maundevile, Sir John._ ‘Voiage and Travaile’ (Edit. 1725).

_Mentzelius, C._ _Index Nominum Plantarum Multilinguis_ (1682).

_Moore, T._ ‘Lalla Rookh.’

_Müller, Max._ ‘Selected Essays.’

_Murray, E. C. G._ ‘Songs and Legends of Roumania.’

_Newton, W._ ‘Display of Heraldry.’

_Nork._ _Mythologie der Volkssagen._

_Oldenburg, Dr. H._ ‘Buddha: his Life, Doctrine, and Order.’

_Parkinson, J._ ‘_Paradisi in Sole: Paradisus Terrestris_’ (1656).

_Paxton, Sir Joseph._ ‘Botanical Dictionary.’

_Percival, Rev. P._ ‘The Land of the Veda.’

_Phillips, J._ ‘_Flora Historical._’

_Pirie, M._ ‘Flowers, Grasses, and Shrubs.’

_Plat, Sir Hugh, Knt._ ‘The Garden of Eden’ (1600).

_Pliny._ ‘Natural History.’

_Porta, J. B._ _Phytognomica_ (1588).

_Pratt, A._ ‘Flowering Plants and Ferns of Great Britain.’

_Prior, Dr._ ‘Popular Names of British Plants.’

_Ralston, W. R._ ‘Forest and Field Myths’ (In ‘Contemporary Review,’ Vol. XXXI.).

_Rapin, R._ _De Hortorum Cultura_ (Gardiner’s trans., 1665).

_Rawlinson, Rev. G._ ‘The Religions of the Ancient World.’

_Reade, W. W._ ‘The Veil of Isis; or, the Mysteries of the Druids.’

_Rea, J._ ‘Flora, Ceres, and Pomona’ (1665).

_Rimmel, E._ ‘The Book of Perfumes.’

The ‘Royal and Imperial Dream Book.’

_Sawyer, F. E._ ‘Sussex Folk-lore and Customs.’

_Shway Yoe._ ‘The Burman: his Life and Notions.’

_Thorpe, B._ ‘Yule-tide Stories.’

_Tighe, W._ ‘The Plants’: a Poem.

_Timbs, J._ ‘Popular Errors;’ ‘Curiosities of History;’ and ‘Things Not Generally Known.’

_Turner, Robert._ ‘_Botanologia_: The Brittish Physician; or, the Nature and Vertues of English Plants’ (1687).

_Turner, W._ ‘The Herball.’

_Tusser, Thomas._ ‘Five Hundred Points of Husbandry’ (1562).

_White, Rev. Gilbert._ ‘Natural History of Selborne.’

_Wilkinson, Sir G._ ‘The Ancient Egyptians.’

_Zahn, J._ _Speculæ Physico-Mathematico-Historicæ_ (1696).

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

_PART THE FIRST._

INTRODUCTION xiii.

CHAPTER I.

THE WORLD-TREES OF THE ANCIENTS. -- The Scandinavian Ash --
The Hindu World-Tree -- The World-Tree of the Buddhists -- The
Iranian World-Tree -- The Assyrian Sacred Tree -- The Mother Tree
of the Greeks, Romans, and Teutons 1

CHAPTER II.

THE TREES OF PARADISE AND THE TREE OF ADAM. -- The Terrestrial
Paradise -- The Paradise of the Persians, Arabians, Hindus,
Scandinavians, and Celts -- The Mosaic Paradise -- Eden and the
Walls of its Garden -- The Tree of Life -- The Tree of Knowledge
-- The Forbidden Fruit -- Adam’s Departure from Paradise --
Seth’s Journey to the Garden of Eden -- The Death of Adam -- The
Seeds of the Tree of Life -- Moses and his Rods -- King David and
the Rods -- Solomon and the Cedars of Lebanon -- The Tree of Adam
and the Tree of the Cross 9

CHAPTER III.

SACRED PLANTS OF THE ANCIENTS. -- The Parsis and the Cypress --
The Oak -- Sacred Plants and Trees of the Brahmans and Buddhists
-- Plants Revered by the Burmans -- The Cedar, Elm, Ash, Rowan,
Baobab, Nipa, Dragon Tree, Zamang, and Moriche Palm -- The
Nelumbo or Sacred Bean -- Plants Worshipped by Egyptians -- The
Lotus, Henna, and Pomegranate -- Sacred Plants of the Græco-Roman
Divinities -- Plants of the Norse Gods 21

CHAPTER IV.

FLORAL CEREMONIES, GARLANDS, AND WREATHS. -- The Altars of the
Gods -- Flowers, Fragrant Woods, and Aromatics -- Incense --
Perfumes -- Ceremonies of the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, and
Romans -- The Roman Triumphs -- Festivals of the Terminalia
and Floralia -- May-day Customs -- Well-flowering -- Harvest
Festivals -- Flowers and Weddings -- Floral Games of Toulouse and
Salency -- The Rosière -- Rose Pelting -- Battle of Flowers --
Japanese New Year’s Festival -- Wreaths, Chaplets, and Garlands 26

CHAPTER V.

PLANTS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. -- The Virgin Mary and her
Flowers -- Joseph’s Plants -- The Plants of Bethlehem -- Flora
of the Flight into Egypt -- The Herb of the Madonna -- Plants of
the Virgin -- The Annunciation, Visitation, and Assumption -- The
Rosary -- The Plants of Christmas -- The Garden of Gethsemane
-- Plants of the Passion -- The Crown of Thorns -- The Wood of
the Cross -- Veronica -- The Plants of Calvary -- The Trees and
the Crucifixion -- The Tree of Judas -- Plants of St. John the
Baptist -- Plant Divination on St. John’s Eve -- Flowers of
the Saints -- The Floral Calendar -- Flowers of the Church’s
Festivals -- Decoration of Churches -- Gospel Oaks -- Memorial
Trees -- The Glastonbury Thorn -- St. Joseph’s Walnut Tree -- St.
Martin’s Yew 40

CHAPTER VI.

PLANTS OF THE FAIRIES AND NAIADES. -- The Elves and the Oak --
Elves of the Forest -- The Elf of the Fir-tree -- The Rose Elf
-- Moss or Wood Folk -- The Black Dwarfs -- The Still Folk --
The Procca -- English Fairies -- The Fairy Steed -- Fairy Revels
-- Elf Grass -- Fairy Plants -- The Cowslip, or Fairy Cup --
The Foxglove, or Lusmore -- The Four-leaved Clover -- The Fairy
Unguent -- The Russalkis -- Naiades and Water Nymphs -- The
Fontinalia -- Fays of the Well 64

CHAPTER VII.

SYLVANS, WOOD NYMPHS, AND TREE SPIRITS. -- Fauns, Satyrs, Dryads,
and Hamadryads -- The Laurel Maiden -- The Willow Nymph -- The
Sister of the Flowers -- Sacred Groves and their Denizens -- The
Spirits of the Forest -- The Indian Tree Ghosts -- The Burmese
Nats -- The African Wood Spirits -- The Waldgeister of the
Germans -- The Elder-mother -- German Tree and Field Spirits 74

CHAPTER VIII.

PLANTS OF THE DEVIL. -- Puck’s Plant -- Pixie-stools -- Loki’s
Plants -- The Trolls and the Globe-flower -- Accursed and Unlucky
Plants -- Plants connected with the Black Art -- Plant-haunting
Demons -- The Devil and Fruit Trees -- Tree Demons on St. John’s
Eve -- Demons of the Woods and Fields -- The Herb of the Devil --
Poisonous and Noxious Plants -- Ill-omened Plants -- The Devil’s
Key -- Plants Inimical to the Devil -- The Devil-Chaser -- The
Deadly Upas -- The Manchineel -- The Oleander -- The Jatropha
Urens -- The Lotos -- The Elder -- The Phallus Impudicus -- The
Carrion Flower -- The Antchar -- The Loco or Rattle Weed -- The
Aquapura -- Deadly Trees of Hispaniola and New Andalusia --
Poisonous Plants 82

CHAPTER IX.

PLANTS OF THE WITCHES. -- The Herbs of Hecate, Circe, and
Medea -- Witch Powder -- Witches and Elders -- Sylvan Haunts
of Witches -- Witches’ Plant-steeds -- Witches’ Soporifics
-- The Nightmare Flower -- Plants used in Spells -- Potions,
Philtres, and Hell-broths -- The Hag Taper -- Witch Ointment --
The Witches’ Bath -- Foreign Witches and their Plants -- Plants
used for Charms and Spells -- Witches’ Prescriptions -- Herbs of
Witchcraft -- Plants Antagonistic to Witches 91