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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
265
CHAPTER
XXIII.
MYSTIC
PLANTS.
The
mystic
character
and
history
of
certain
plants
meet
us
in
every
age
and
country.
The
gradual
evolution
of
these
curious
plants
of
belief
must,
no
doubt,
partly
be
ascribed
to
their
mythical
origin,
and
in
many
cases
to
their
sacred
associations;
while,
in
some
instances,
it
is
not
surprising
that,
"any
plant
which
produced
a
marked
effect
upon
the
human
constitution
should
become
an
object
of
superstition."
[1]
A
further
reason
why
sundry
plants
acquired
a
mystic
notoriety
was
their
peculiar
manner
of
growth,
which,
through
not
being
understood
by
early
botanists,
caused
them
to
be
invested
with
mystery.
Hence
a
variety
of
combinations
have
produced
those
mystic
properties
of
trees
and
flowers
which
have
inspired
them
with
such
superstitious
veneration
in
our
own
and
other
countries.
According
to
Mr.
Conway,
the
apple,
of
all
fruits,
seems
to
have
had
the
widest
and
most
mystical
history.
Thus,
"Aphrodite
bears
it
in
her
hand
as
well
as
Eve;
the
serpent
guards
it,
the
dragon
watches
it.
It
is
the
healing
fruit
of
the
Arabian
tribes.
Azrael,
the
Angel
of
Death,
accomplishes
his
mission
by
holding
it
to
the
nostrils,
and
in
the
prose
Edda
it
is
written,
'Iduna
keeps
in
a
box
apples
which
the
gods,
when
they
feel
old
age
approaching,
have
only
to
taste
to
become
young
again.'"
Indeed,
the
legendary
mythical
lore
connected
with
the
apple
is
most
extensive,
a
circumstance
which
fully
explains
its
mystic
character.
Further,
as
Mr.
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