Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
213
Once
more,
the
strawberry
is
one
of
the
fruits
that
has
been
dedicated
to
her;
and
a
species
of
nut,
popularly
known
as
the
molluka
bean,
is
in
many
parts
called
the
"Virgin
Mary's
nut."
The
cherry-tree,
too,
has
long
been
consecrated
to
the
Virgin
from
the
following
tradition:--
Being
desirous
one
day
of
refreshing
herself
with
some
cherries
which
she
saw
hanging
upon
a
tree,
she
requested
Joseph
to
gather
some
for
her.
But
he
hesitated,
and
mockingly
said,
"Let
the
father
of
thy
child
present
them
to
you."
But
these
words
had
been
no
sooner
uttered
than
the
branch
of
the
cherry-tree
inclined
itself
of
its
own
accord
to
the
Virgin's
hand.
There
are
many
other
plants
associated
in
one
way
or
another
with
the
Virgin,
but
the
instances
already
given
are
representative
of
this
wide
subject.
In
connection,
too,
with
her
various
festivals,
we
find
numerous
plants;
and
as
the
author
of
"Flower-lore"
remarks,
"to
the
Madonna
were
assigned
the
white
iris,
blossoming
almond-tree,
narcissus,
and
white
lily,
all
appropriate
to
the
Annunciation."
The
flowers
appropriate
to
the
"Visitation
of
Our
Lady"
were,
in
addition
to
the
lily,
roses
red
and
white,
while
to
the
"Feast
of
Assumption"
is
assigned
the
"Virgin's
bower,"
"worthy
to
be
so
called,"
writes
Gerarde,
"by
reason
of
the
goodly
shadow
which
the
branches
make
with
their
thick
bushing
and
climbing,
as
also
for
the
beauty
of
the
flowers,
and
the
pleasant
scent
and
savour
of
the
same."
Many
plants
have
been
associated
with
St.
John
the
Baptist,
from
his
having
been
the
forerunner
of
Christ.
Thus,
the
common
plant
which
bears
his
name,
St.
John's
wort,
is
marked
with
blood-like
spots,
known
as
the
"blood
of
St.
John,"
making
their
appearance
on
the
day
he
was
beheaded.
The
scarlet
lychnis,
popularly
nicknamed
the
"great
candlestick,"
was
commonly
said
to
be
lighted
up
for
his
day.
The
carob
tree
has
been
designated
"St.
John's
bread,"
from
a
tradition
that
it
supplied
him
with
food
in
the
wilderness;
and
currants,
from
beginning
to
ripen
at
this
time,
have
been
nicknamed
"berries
of
St.
John."
The
artemisia
was
in
Germany
"St.
John's
girdle,"
and
in
Sicily
was
applied
to
his
beard.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
