MYSTIC PLANTS. 431 



may be seen by the imaginative in these flowers. 

 Monardes (1593) was the first to call attention to 

 this peculiarity. Soon afterwards the plant was in 

 cultivation at Bologna and at Rome. There is some 

 little confusion as to the exact date, but it may 

 safely be said to have been in cultivation in Italy 

 before 1609. Thence it probably was introduced 

 into Belgium, and is known to have been grown in 

 this country in 1629. Parkinson figures it under the 

 name of " Maracoc sive clematis virginiana — the 

 Virginia climber." He associates it with clematis, 

 because, as he says, " unto what other family or 

 kindred I might better conjoin it I know not." He 

 calls it the " surpassing delight of all flowers ;" but 

 he had very little sympathy with the imaginary 

 description of Monardes, as will be seen from the 

 following extract : " Some superstitious Jesuite would 

 fain make men beleeve that in the flower of this plant 

 are to be scene all the markes of our Saviour's 

 passion, and therefore call it ' flos passionis,' and to 

 that end have caused figures to be drawne and 

 printed, with all the parts proportioned out, as 

 thornes, nails, speare, whippe, pillar, &c., in it and all 

 as true as the sea burnes, which you may well 

 perceive by the true figure, taken to the life of 

 the plant, compared with the figures set forth by the 

 Jesuites, which I have placed here likewise for every 

 one to see; but these bee their advantageous lies 



