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424 p P a n t l5)o ro , T s c g e l|a /, a a s l Tsijric/,
Almond-like fruit is eaten, and an oil is obtained from it: the wood
is hard, and is used by the Indians in constructing their huts.
Among certain uncivilised hill tribes, the Mahwah is regarded as
equal to a deity, so great is their affeCtion for this tree, under whose
branches they hold their assemblies and celebrate their anniversaries ;
on whose boughs they suspend, when not in use, their spears
and their ploughshares, and beneath whose shadow they exhibit
those mysterious circles of flint which take the place of idols with
them. So, when attacked by the Hindus, the wild tribes fight with
desperation for the defence of their Mahwahs, which their enemies,
when at war with them, make a point of seizing and destroying.
M A ID E N H A IR F E R N .—Adiantum, or Capillus Veneris,
derived its name from the Greek adiantos, unmoistened, in relation,
doubtless, to its property of repelling water—a peculiarity noticed
by Theophrastus, and also by Pliny, who says it is in vain to
plunge the Adiantum in water, for it always remains dry. This
property of remaining unmoistened by water was attributed to the
hair of Venus, when she rose from the sea; and hence the Adiantum
obtained the name of Capillus Veneris. Nevertheless, Adiantum was
specially dedicated to Pluto and to Proserpine. Maidenhair is
called polytrichon, because it brings forth a multitude of hairs;
callitrichon, because it produces black and fair hair; Capillus Veneris,
because it produces grace and love. According to Egyptian
symbolism. Adiantum indicated recovery from illness. In the
Catholic Church, the Maidenhair Fern is known as the Virgin’s
Hair.
M A IT H E S or M A ID S . - -The Pyrethrum Parthenium was
formerly known by the name of Maithes (Maids), because by the
old herbalists it was considered efficacious in hysterical and other
irregularities of the system to which maidens are subject. In the
same category are the plants formerly known as Maghet, Mather,
or Maydweed {Anthemis Cotula), the Maydweed {Matricaria Chamo-
milla), Maudlein, or Costmary {Balsamita), Maudlin-wort or Moon
Daisy {Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum), the Maudlin, or Herha dive
Marie {Achillea Ageratum), the Marguerite {Beilis perennis), and some
others. These plants, bearing flowers with white ray florets, were,
thought to resemble the Moon, which, as it regulated the monthly
periods of the year, was supposed, says Dr. Prior, to have an
influence over female complaints. B y the ancients these plants
were consecrated to Isis, Juno Lucina, and Artemis, or Diana, the
virgin goddess of the night ; but were transferred by the Catholics
to St. Mary Magdalene and St. Margaret of Cortona.
M A IZ E .—The American aborigines worshipped Maize as a
divinity. Children were kept to watch the precious grain as it
grew, and guard it from the ravages of birds ; but some of the
tribes proteffied the thievish crow because of the legend that a
crow had brought them the first seed of the sacred plant, At
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the present day, the Indians regard it with superstitious veneration.
They esteem it, says Schoolcraft, so important and divine a grain,
that their story-tellers invented various tales in which this idea is
symbolised under the form of a special gift from the Great Spirit.
The Ojebwa-Algonquins, who call it Mon-da-min, or the Spirit’s
grain or berry, cherish a legend, in which the stalk in full tassel is
represented as descending from the sky, under the guise of a
handsome youth, in response to the prayers of a young man offered
up at his fast of virility. Among the American colonists, the
husking of the Maize was always accompanied with a rustic ceremony
and gathering of the villagers. Longfellow tells us how—
“ In the golden weather the Maize was husked, and the maidens
Blushed at each blood-red ear, for that betokened a lover;
But at the crooked laughed, and called it a thief in the cornfield.
Even the blood-red ear to Evangeline brought not her lover.”
M A L L O W .—The ancient Romans had some kind of Mallow
{Malva) served up as vegetables, and the Egyptians, Syrians, and
Chinese also use them as food. In Jo b ’s days, these plants were
eaten by those wandering tribes who, as the patriarch says, “ cut
up Mallows by the bushes, and Juniper-roots for their meat.” The
Mallow formed one of the funeral flowers of the ancients, with whom
it was customary to plant it around the graves of departed friends.
The plant yields a fibre capable of being woven into a fabric ; and
there is an Eastern tradition that Mahomed was so delighted with
the texture of a robe made of this material, that he forthwith
miraculously turned the Mallow into a Pelargonium. The seeds
of the Mallow are called by country children, cheeses. Clare
recalls the days of his childhood, when he and his playmates sat—
“ Picking from Mallows sport to please,
The crumpled seed we call’d a cheese.”
Pliny ascribes a magical power to Mallows. He says, “ Whosoever
shall take a spoonful of any of the Mallows shall that day be free
from all the diseases that may come unto him; ” and he adds,
that it is especially good against the falling sickness. The same
writer, quoting Xenocrates, attributes to the seed of Mallows the
power of exciting the passions. Gerarde, writing of the Malva
crispa, commends its properties in verse :—
“ If that of health you have any speciale care,
Use French Mallowes, that to the body holsome are.”
M A N C H IN E E L .—The Manchineel-tree {Hippomane Manci-
nella) is one of ill repute. Its exhalations are stated to cause certain
death to those who sleep beneath its foliage. It abounds in a
white milky juice, which is highly poisonous; a single drop causing
instant pain if it touches the human skin.
M A N D R A K E .—The Atropa Mandragora derives its name
from Atropos, the eldest of the all-powerful Parcae, the arbiters of
the life and death of mankind. Clothed in sombre black robes, and
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