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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
152
Hence
in
numerous
instances
a
meaning,
wholly
misguiding,
has
been
assigned
to
various
plants,
and
has
given
rise
to
much
confusion.
This,
too,
it
may
be
added,
is
the
case
in
other
countries
as
well
as
our
own.
Furthermore,
as
M.
de
Gubernatis
observes,
"there
exist
a
great
number
of
books
which
pretend
to
explain
the
language
of
flowers,
wherein
one
may
occasionally
find
a
popular
or
traditional
symbol;
but,
as
a
rule,
these
expressions
are
generally
the
wild
fancies
of
the
author
himself."
Hence,
in
dealing
with
plant
language,
one
is
confronted
with
a
host
of
handbooks,
many
of
which
are
not
only
inaccurate,
but
misleading.
But
in
enumerating
the
recognised
and
well-known
plants
that
have
acquired
a
figurative
meaning,
it
will
be
found
that
in
a
variety
of
cases
this
may
be
traced
to
their
connection
with
some
particular
event
in
years
past,
and
not
to
some
chance
or
caprice,
as
some
would
make
us
believe.
The
amaranth,
for
instance,
which
is
the
emblem
of
immortality,
received
its
name,
"never-fading,"
from
the
Greeks
on
account
of
the
lasting
nature
of
its
blossoms.
Accordingly,
Milton
crowns
with
amaranth
the
angelic
multitude
assembled
before
the
Deity:--
"To
the
ground,
With
solemn
adoration,
down
they
cast
Their
crowns,
inwove
with
amaranth
and
gold.
Immortal
amaranth,
a
flower
which
once
In
Paradise,
fast
by
the
tree
of
life,
Began
to
bloom;
but
soon,
for
man's
offence,
To
heaven
removed,
where
first
it
grew,
there
grows
And
flowers
aloft,
shading
the
font
of
life,"
&c.
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