1 r
derived the word Huzza! in our language, which was probably at
first a religious exclamation like the Evoke! of the Bacchantes.” ------
The English newspapers lately gave an account of a singular
species of American Acacia, stated to be growing at Virginia,
Nevada, and exhibiting all the charaifteristics of a sensitive plant.
At the commencement of 1883 the Acacia was reported to be about
eight feet high, and growing rapidly. When the sun sets, its leaves
fold together and the ends of the twigs coil up like a pig-tail; and
if the latter are handled, there is evident uneasiness throughout the
plant. Its highest state of agitation was reached when the tree
was removed from the pot in which it was matured into a larger
one. To use the gardener’s expression, it went very mad. It hac.
scarcely been planted in its new quarters before the leaves began
to stand up in all directions, like the hair on the tail of an angry
cat, and soon the whole plant was in a quiver. At the same time
it gave out a most sickening and pungent odour, resembling that of
a rattlesnake when teased. The smell so filled the house, that it
was necessary to open all the doors and windows, and it was a full
hour before the plant calmed down and folded its leaves in peace.
A C A N T H U S .—The Acanthus was a favourite plant amongst
both the Greeks and Romans, who employed it for decorative purposes
: its leaves form the principal adornment of the Corinthian
capital, which was invented by Callimachus. How the idea was suggested
to the architect is told us by Vitruvius. A young Corinthian
damsel fell ill and died. After her interment, her nurse gathered her
trinkets and ornaments into a basket, and lest they should be injured
by the weather, she covered the basket with a tile, and
placed it near her young mistress’s tomb over the root of an Acanthus,
the stalks and leaves of which burst forth in the Spring, and
spreading themselves on the outside of the basket, were bent back
again at the top by the corner of the tile. Callimachus happening
to pass by, was charmed with the beauty and novelty of this accidental
arrangement, and took from it the idea of the Corinthian
chapter. Both Greeks and Romans made use of the Acanthus
mollis in the form of garlands, with which they adorned their builc -
ings, their furniture, and even their clothing. Theocritus speaks
of a prize cup as having “ a crust of soft Acanthus.” Virgil narrates
that the plant formed the basis of a design embroidered on
the mantle of Helen of T ro y ; and tells us that the handles of Al-
cimedon’s cup were enwreathed with what he elsewhere terms
“ Smiling Acaiflhus.” Old English names for this plant were
Brank-ursine and Bear’s-breech. Acanthus is stated by astrologers
to be under the dominion of the Moon.
A C H Y R A N T H E S .—The Apamarga, an Indian variety of this
plant, has given the name to the sacrificial rite called Apamarga Honia,
because at daybreak they offer a handful of flour made from the
seeds of the Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera). According to a legenc.
quoted by De Gubernatis, Indra had slain Vriitra and other
demons, when he encountered the demon Namuchi and wrestled
with him. Vanquished, he made peace with Namuchi on the
understanding that he should never kill anything with a solid body,
nor with a liquid body, neither by night nor by day. So Indra
gathered a vegetable, which is neither solid nor liquid, and comes
during the daybreak, when the night is past, but the day has
not yet come. Then with the vegetable he attacked the monster
Namuchi, who' complained of this treachery. From the head of
Namuchi sprang the plant Apamarga. Indra afterwards destroyed
all the monsters by means of this plant. As may be supposed after
such a marvellous origin, the plant was soon looked upon as a
powerful talisman. According to the Atharvaveda, it should be
held in the hand, and invoked against the malady Kshetriya, and
against witches, monsters, and nightmares. They call it the Victor,
having in itself the strength of a thousand, destroying the effects
of malediitions, and especially of those inimical to generation,
which produce hunger, thirst, and poverty. It is also called the
Lord of salutary plants, son of Vibhindant, having received all its
power from Indra himself. The Hindus believe that the plant is
a security against the bites of scorpions.
A c o n i t e .—See Monkshood.
A C O R U S .—This aromatic Reed, or Sweet Flag, is absurdly
said to have been called Acorus, from the Greek hore, pupil,
because it was esteemed good for diseases of the eye. The sacred
oil of the Jews—the “ oil of holy ointment”—used to anoint the
tabernacle, the ark of the testimony, the altar of burnt offerings,
the altar of incense, the candlesticks, and all the sacred vessels,
has the oil of Acorus as one of its ingredients. It is the “ Sweet
Calamus” mentioned in Exodus x x x . The Acorus is a plant of
the Moon.
A D D E R ’ S T O N G U E .—The Adder’s Tongue, or to give it its
old Latin name, Christ’s Spear {Ophioglossum vulgatum), was, formerly
much prized as a remedy for wounds. Gerarde declared that
boiled in olive oil it produced “ a most excellent greene oyle, or
rather a balsam for greene wounds comparable to oyle of St. John’s
wort, if it doth not far surpasse it.” A preparation called the
“ green oil of charity ” is still in request; and Adder’s Spear ointment
(a compound of Adder’s Tongue Fern, Plantain, and sundry
herbs) is well known in country places as a vulnerary. In olden
times an Adder’s Tongue was reputed to be a wondrous cure for
tumours, if plucked at the falling of the Moon, and applied with
the accompaniment of an incantation. Witches highly esteemed
Adder’s Tongue as a plant to be employed in their spells. Astrologers
class it as a herb of the Moon.
A f f a d y l .— See Narcissus.