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plant, and the Raskolniks call it the Herb of the Devil, and make
offerings of it to appease “ genis, spirits, and demons of the
forest.” Until the time of Peter the Great, the use of Tobacco
was forbidden in Russia, and those who transgressed the law had
their noses split.
T R E A C L E -M U S T A R D .—The names of French Mustard,
Treacle-Mustard, and Treacle Worm-seed were given to the Erysimum
cheiranthoides, the two last because, in mediæval times, the seed
of this plant formed one of the seventy-three ingredients of the
far-famed “ Venice treacle,” a noted antidote to all poisons, believed
to cure “ all those that were bitten or stung of venomous beastes, or
had drunk poisons, or were infeciled with the pestilence.” The
origin of this counter-poison was the famous Mithridaticum, a preparation
invented by Mithridates, king of Pontus. Andromachus
added to this comparatively simple compound other ingredients,
and especially vipers ; changing, on that account, the name to
Theriaca (from the Greek therion, a small animal). Dr. Pfior tells
us that this remedy, which was known in England originally as
Triacle, was the source of many popular tales of sorcerers eating
poison, and was retained in the London Pharmacopoeia till about
a century ago.
T R E F O I L .—Among the Romans, the Grass crown made of
Trefoil-leaves was esteemed a mark of very high honour. (See
C l o v e r and S h am r o c k ).
T R O L L - F L O W E R .—The Globe-flower {Trollius Europeus)
acquired the sobriquet of Troll-flower in allusion to the Trolls,
who were malignant elves, and because of the plant’s acrid
poisonous qualities. (See G l o b e F l o w e r ).
T r u e - L o v e .—See Herb Paris.
T U B E R O S E .,—The name Tuberose is simply a corruption
of the plant’s botanical title Polianthes tuherosa. The Malayans call
this sweet-scented flower “ The Mistress of Night : ” when worn
in the hair by a Malayan lady, the blossom is an indication to her
lover that his suit is pleasing to her. The Tuberose is a native of
India, whence it was first brought to Europe towards the close of
the sixteenth century. Its blossoms were at first single, but L a
Cour, a Dutch florist, obtained the double-flowering variety from
seed. So tenacious was he of the roots, that even after he had propagated
them so freely as to have more than he could plant, he
caused therq to be cut to pieces iu order that he might have the
pleasure of boasting that he was the only person in Europe who
possessed this fiower,
T U L A S I .—:The Indian name of the Holy Basil {Ocimum
sanctum) is Tulasi, under which appellation this sacred plant is worshipped
as a goddess. (See B asil,),
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T U L I P .—The origin of the brilliant and dazzling Tulip has
been given us by the poet Rapin, who relates that the flower was
a modest Dalmatian nymph, metamorphosed into a Tulip to
save her from the importunities of Vertumnus. The story is thus
told by the Jesuit poet :—
“ Dalmatia claims the nymph, whom heretofore
A bright Timavian dame to Proteus bore ;
To her the changing sire his gift conveys,
In every dress and every form to please:
Disguised Vertumnus, wandering round the world,
On the Dalmatian coast by Fate was hurled.
Where by her mother’s stream the virgin played ;
The courting god with all his arts assayed
(But unsuccessful still) the haughty maid.
Yet, as the changing colours pleased her eyes,
He put on every form that might surprise,
Dres’t in all Nature’s sweet varieties;
To suit his mind to her wild humour strove.
No complaisance forgot, no policy of love ;
But when he saw his prayers and arts had failed,
Bold with desire his passion he revealed,
Confessed the secret god, and force applied.
To heaven for aid the modest virgin cried:
‘ Y e rural powers, preserve a nymph from shame ! ’
And, worthy of her wish, a flower became.
Her golden caul that shone with sparkling hair,
The lace and ribbons which adorned the fair,
To leaves are changed ; her breast a stem is made,
Slender and long, with fragrant greens arrayed ;
Six gaudy leaves a painted cup compose,
On which kind nature every dye bestows ;
For though the nymph transformed, the love she bore
To colours still delights her as before. ”
The Tulip is a favourite flower of the East, and is believed originally
to have come from Persia. The French formerly called the
flower Tulipán, which, as well as the English name, is derived from
Thoulyban, the word used in Persia for turban. The Tulip is
considered to be one of the flowers loved by fairies and elves,
who protecil those that cultivate them. In Turkey, the flower
is held in the highest estimation, and a Feast of Tulips used
to be celebrated annually in the Sultan’s seraglio, when the
gardens were brilliantly illuminatefi and decorated with Oriental
magnificence, and the fête was attended by the Sultan and his
harem. The garden Tulip is a native of the Levant : Linnæus
says of Cappadocia. It is very common in Syria, and is supposed
by some persons to be the “ L ily of the field ” alluded to by Jesus
Christ. In Persia, the Tulip is considered as the emblem of consuming
love. When a young man presents one to his mistress, he
gives her to understand, by the general colour of the flower, that he
is impressed with her beauty, and by the black base of it that his
heart is burnt to a coal. In India, the Tulip seems to typify
unhappy love. In the ‘ Rose of Bakawali,’ a Hindustani story,
the author, while describing the beautiful fairy of the heaven,
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