Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics / Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-Lore of the Plant Kingdom

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

44638

Title

Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics / Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-Lore of the Plant Kingdom

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Richard Folkard's 1884 compendium explores the rich tapestry of plant lore, weaving together myths, superstitions, and folk traditions from global cultures. This Victorian-era volume serves as an engaging guide to the symbolic language of nature, blending botanical history with enchanting legends of fairies, witches, and sacred trees.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics*, Richard Folkard presents a comprehensive treasury of the myths, traditions, and superstitions surrounding the plant kingdom. Drawing upon a vast array of sources ranging from ancient herbals to modern fairy tales, as well as Continental and Indian traditions, Folkard classifies and arranges accumulated material to explore humanity's enduring fascination with vegetation. The work is divided into two sections: a digest of the second, featuring reproductions of curious illustrations, and a detailed exploration of specific botanical subjects. Folkard delves into the spiritual lives of the natural world, examining the legends of elves, wood nymphs, dryads, and tree spirits that inhabit forests and sacred groves. He contrasts these benevolent entities with the darker aspects of plant lore, detailing plants associated with the devil, witches, and malignant supernatural beings like trolls and pixies. The text covers the doctrine of plant signatures, which posits that a plant's appearance reveals its medicinal properties, and explores planetary influences on herbs, such as the sunflower's connection to the Sun and the moon's effect on gardening operations. The book serves as both a historical record of Victorian botanical interest and a repository of folk wisdom. It offers fascinating entries on specific plants, such as the Glastonbury Thorn, which was believed to bloom only at Christmas and was used to validate the traditional date of the holiday against calendar reforms; the Globe Flower, linked to Scandinavian trolls; and the Golden Rod, a divining rod for hidden treasures. Folkard also examines floral ceremonies, garlands, wreaths, and the symbolic language of flowers used in ancient rituals and Christian iconography. By weaving together scientific observation with magical belief, the book provides a comprehensive look at how humanity has long viewed the plant kingdom through a lens of wonder, mystery, and deep cultural significance.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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2026-07-07 15:17 UTC

Categories

• Folklore
• Botany