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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
46
But
its
sacred
attributes
were
not
limited
to
this
country,
many
a
legend
on
the
Continent
testifying
to
the
safety
afforded
by
its
sheltering
branches.
Indeed,
so
great
are
its
virtues
that,
according
to
a
Westphalian
tradition,
the
Wandering
Jew
can
only
rest
where
he
shall
happen
to
find
two
oaks
growing
in
the
form
of
a
cross.
A
further
proof
of
its
exalted
character
may
be
gathered
from
the
fact
that
around
its
roots
Scandinavian
mythology
has
gathered
fairyland,
and
hence
in
Germany
the
holes
in
its
trunk
are
the
pathways
for
elves.
But
the
connection
between
lightning
and
plants
extends
over
a
wide
area,
and
Germany
is
rich
in
legends
relative
to
this
species
of
folk-lore.
Thus
there
is
the
magic
springwort,
around
which
have
clustered
so
many
curious
lightning
myths
and
talismanic
properties.
By
reason
of
its
celestial
origin
this
much-coveted
plant,
when
buried
in
the
ground
at
the
summit
of
a
mountain,
has
the
reputation
of
drawing
down
the
lightning
and
dividing
the
storm.
It
is
difficult,
however,
to
procure,
especially
as
there
is
no
certainty
as
to
the
exact
species
of
plants
to
which
it
belongs,
although
Grimm
identifies
it
with
the
Euphorbia
lathyris.
At
any
rate,
it
is
chiefly
procurable
by
the
woodpecker--a
lightning-bearer;
and
to
secure
this
much-prized
treasure,
its
nest
must
be
stopped
up,
access
to
which
it
will
quickly
gain
by
touching
it
with
the
springwort.
But
if
one
have
in
readiness
a
pan
of
water,
a
fire,
or
a
red
cloth,
the
bird
will
let
the
plant
fall,
which
otherwise
it
would
be
a
difficult
work
to
obtain,
"the
notion,
no
doubt,
being
that
the
bird
must
return
the
mystic
plant
to
the
element
from
which
it
springs,
that
being
either
the
water
of
the
clouds
or
the
lightning
fire
enclosed
therein."[11]
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