Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-08
9NggU "a
SATAN AND FLOWERS.
DiaboIie Action of Certain Plants In
Mythology.

DlaDOlC ACtlOn OF ScTIdlH III
Mythology.
The traditional association Of the
personified power Of evil and a garden
liz, Of course, familiar to all, and the
kindred or evolved traditions form one
of the most fascinating studies Of
comparative mythology. But 1t can
scarcely be. contended that 1t Is in any
way due to this association that we
find his Satanic majesty figuring 80
frequently in the folk nomenclature Of
flowers and shrubs. But such cases
are by no means common; but far, the
greater number Of diabolic appellations
refer to some physical popularity In
the plant which Is either attributed to
M. le Diable, or suggests its employ
ment by or effect on that potentate.
And when we come to consider the
names in question we realize, says the
London Globe. that 1t is by no means
the Miltonic devil that is referred to,
but rather the malevolent and some
times rather contemplate buffoon OF
the old miracle plays. And what Is
still more remarkable in some cases we
find plants the subjects, so to speak, of
a Joint or disputed ownership, one
claimant to which Is the devil, while
the other is often canonized saint
named In the Christian calendar. 1t
Is not easy for us Of the present age
to conceive the mental phase which
names, for example, hand-shaped
flower after a saint or devil indiner-
emily, as Is the case with one OF the
orchid family, which by some Is styled
"Mary's hand" and by others "Satan's
hand" There does not seem the same
violence Of absurdity in the custom OF
associating flowers or plants with elves
or fairies as their originators or en-
ployers.
1t would be impossible within rea-
sonable limits to give all the instances
CT the devil among the flowers, but
enough may be cited to show that, as
has been said. 1t is the grotesque, me-
diaeval devil rather than the awesome
fiend Of theology or poetry. The ia
miliar scabious. owing to the shape OF
its root. suggestive Of mouthful hav-
ing been taken out Of 1t, Is called the
devils bite. Explanations are by no
means wanting The bite" was taken
in Jealous rage, because the root In
question was thought to be of great
medicinal value, and the arch enemy
naturally begrudged mankind every
fraction of it, One of its therapeutic
uses is as a soporific. and the atmos-
phere Of his abode rendering such an
agent quite unnecessary the devil Dit
off a piece in a dog-in-the- -manger
spirit. Another tradition has 1t that
with this root the evil one was wont TO
perform all sorts Of marvels till our
lady deprived 1t Of the power, where
upon in impotent rage he hit II.
Some Of the devil titles doubtless date
from the time when, as Shakespeare
tells us, to many plants with a decor
GUS appellation, liberal shepherds give
grosser name" and these can be
found in plenty in old-fashioned her
balls.
Some plants owe their diabolic pre-
| fix to the same moral idea that has
been noticed in the case of the "deVlrs s
apples" Of the mandrake. The berries
of the briony, for instance, are the
devils cherries. and those Of the dead
| ly nightshade DEVILS berries par ex-
| p,,t 10
understand why the pretty campion
should be the devils flower, nor the
ox-eyed daisy his daisy; still more
puzzling Is it to account for the garlic
being his "posy," when we call 10
mind the universal attribute to the
garlic of hostility to the powers OF
evil-especially when manifested In
the vampire form. But this apparent
contradiction Is noticeable also in the
case Of the mystic vervain, which, ac-
cording to some, is eminently antive-
netic. but which old Gerarde tell us the
devil did reveal as secret and divine
medicine" This association Of the
yervain with diabolic action reminds
US that that there ara numerous plants
with which, though 1t be not written
down" in their names, the devil Is con-
nected. The devil is said to exercise
the strictest guardianship over the
magical fernseed (Which gives the pow
er of being invisible), and the only
time it can be obtained from his Gus
tody Is on st. Johns eve. Another
legend has for it's subject the favorite
sweetbriar or eglantine, always asso-
ciated with the well-known references