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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
14
Similarly,
the
red
poppies
which
followed
the
ploughing
of
the
field
of
Waterloo
after
the
Duke
of
Wellington's
victory
were
said
to
have
sprung
from
the
blood
of
the
troops
who
fell
during
the
engagement;[35]
and
the
fruit
of
the
mulberry,
which
was
originally
white,
tradition
tells
us
became
empurpled
through
human
blood,
a
notion
which
in
Germany
explains
the
colour
of
the
heather.
Once
more,
the
mandrake,
according
to
a
superstition
current
in
France
and
Germany,
sprang
up
where
the
presence
of
a
criminal
had
polluted
the
ground,
and
hence
the
old
belief
that
it
was
generally
found
near
a
gallows.
In
Iceland
it
is
commonly
said
that
when
innocent
persons
are
put
to
death
the
sorb
or
mountain
ash
will
spring
up
over
their
graves.
Similar
traditions
cluster
round
numerous
other
plants,
which,
apart
from
being
a
revival
of
a
very
early
primitive
belief,
form
one
of
the
prettiest
chapters
of
our
legendary
tales.
Although
found
under
a
variety
of
forms,
and
in
some
cases
sadly
corrupted
from
the
dress
they
originally
wore,
yet
in
their
main
features
they
have
not
lost
their
individuality,
but
still
retain
their
distinctive
character.
In
connection
with
the
myths
of
plant
life
may
be
noticed
that
curious
species
of
exotic
plants,
commonly
known
as
"sensitive
plants,"
and
which
have
generally
attracted
considerable
interest
from
their
irritability
when
touched.
Shelley
has
immortalised
this
curious
freak
of
plant
life
in
his
charming
poem,
wherein
he
relates
how,
"The
sensitive
plant
was
the
earliest,
Up-gathered
into
the
bosom
of
rest;
A
sweet
child
weary
of
its
delight,
The
feeblest
and
yet
the
favourite,
Cradled
within
the
embrace
of
night."
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