Henna {Lawsonia alha), the flower of Paradise, is dedicated to
Mahomet, who charaffierised it as the “ chief of the flowers of this
world and the next.”
The Pomegranate-tree was highly reverenced both by the
Persians and the Jews. The fruit was embroidered on the hem of
Aaron s sacred robe, and adorned the robes of Persia’s ancient
Priest-Kings.
Pine-cones were regarded by the Assyrians as sacred symbols,
and as such were used in the decoration of their temples.
In Teutonic and Scandinavian mythology the Rose is sacred
to Hulda, the Fla x to Bertha, the Spignel to Baldr, and the Hair
Moss {Polytrichum commune) is dedicated to Thor’s wife, Sif. Of
the divinities after whom the days of the week were named, the
Sun has his special flower, the Moon her Daisy, T yr {Tuesday) the
Tys-fiola or March Violet and the Mezereon ; Woden (Wednesday)
the Geranium sylvaticum (Odin’s Favour) and the Monkshood (Odin’s
Helm) ; Thor {Thursday) the Monkshood (Thor’s Hat) and the
Burdock (ThoPs Mantle) ; Frigg {Friday) and Freyja, who is often
confounded with her, had many plants dedicated to them, which
have since been transferred to Venus and the Virgin Mary, and
are not now recognised by the name of either of the Scandinavian
goddesses. _ In the North of Europe, however, the Supercilium
Veneris is qtill known as Frey ja’s Hair, and the perfumed Orchis
Gymnadenia conopsea as Frigg’s Grass. Sæterne or Sætere {Saturday),
the supposed name of an Anglo-Saxon god, is probably but a mere
adaptation of the Roman Saturnus. It may, perhaps, be apposite
to quote (for what it may be worth) Verstegan’s statement that the
Saxons represented “ Seater” as carrying a pail of water in which
were flowers and fruits, whereby “ was declared that with kindly
raine he would nourish the earth to bring foorth such fruités and
flowers.”
In the Grecian and Roman mythology we find numerous trees
and flowers dedicated to the principal divinities. Thus, the
Alder was dedicated to Neptune.
Apple
Ash
B ay
Beech
Cornel Cherry
Cypress
Dittany
Dog-grass
Fir
Heliotrope
Horsetail
Iris
Ivy
Laurel
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Venus.
Mars.
Apollo.
Jupiter Ammon.
Apollo.
Pluto.
Juno, Diana, and Luna.
Mars.
Cybele and Neptune.
Phoebus Apollo.
Saturn.
Juno.
Bacchus.
Apollo.
L ily
Maidenhair
Myrtle
N arcissus
Oak
Olive
Palm
Pine
Pink
Pomegranate
Poplar
Poppy
Rhamnus
Rocket
Rose
Vine
Willow
was dedicated to
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Juno,
Pluto and Proserpine.
Venus and Mars.
Ceres, Pluto, and Proserpine,
Jupiter.
Minerva.
Mercury.
Neptune and Pan.
upiter.
]
uno.
Hercules.
Ceres, Diana, and Somnus.
Janus.
Priapus.
Venus.
Bacchus.
Ceres.
To the Furies was consecrated the Juniper; the Fates wore
wreaths of the Narcissus, and the Muses Bay-leaves.
The Grecian Centaurs, half men, half horses, like their Indian
brethren the Gandharvas, understood the properties of herbs, and
cultivated them; but, as a rule, they never willingly divulged to
mankind their knowledge of the secrets of the vegetable world.
Nevertheless, the Centaur Chiron instructed iEsculapius, Achilles,
^Eneas, and other heroes in the polite arts. Chiron had a panacea
of his own, which is named after him Ghironia Gentaurium, or
Gentiana Gentaurium; and, as a vulnerary, the Ampelos Ghironia oi
Pliny, or Tamus communis. In India, on account of the shape of
its leaves, the Ricinus communis is called Gandharvahasta (having the
hands of a Gandharva).