LEGENDS OF NATIONAL FLOWERS 163 



who flew to arms and drove back the foe. Thus 

 '* the guardian thistle to the foeman stern " was 

 chosen as the cognisance of Scotland, and is regarded 

 as the symbol of independence and retaliation. 

 It is dear to the Scotsman more than all other 

 flowers, '' excepting the rose, and he is the rose's 

 husband." 



The thistle has given its title to a Scotch order of 

 knighthood, which is said to have been instituted 

 hy Achaius, King of the Scots, when he obtained 

 a victory over Athelstan. The insignia borne hy 

 the Knights of the Order of the Thistle is a gold 

 collar, with thistles and a sprig of rue interlaced. 

 A gold medal is also worn, bearing a figure of 

 St. Andrew. 



According to ancient mythology, the thistle is a 

 lightning plant, and as such is dedicated to Thor, 

 god of war and thunder, so, in common with other 

 plants of the same nature, the thistle protects from 

 evil. Like the classic crane, the thistle discovers 

 and brings home crime to the perpetrator. 



An old legend says that in a certain wild spot, 

 where once a murder was committed, every day at 

 noon there grows a strangely-formed thistle, and 

 on this weird plant can be distinctly seen human 

 heads, arms, and hands. When twelve heads have 

 appeared the ghastly plant mysteriously vanishes. 



" In Scotland blooms a warlike flower, 

 Too rough to bloom in lady's bower ! 

 His crest, when high, the soldier bears, 

 And spurs the courser on his spears. 

 Oh ! there it blossoms, there it blows. 

 The thistle's grown aboon the Rose !" 



