xviii. pPant "bore, Tscgef^^/, anil Tsijplcy, 



the field of comparative mythology of Max Muller, Grimm, Kuhn, 

 Mannhardt, De Gubernatis, and other eminent scholars, whose 

 erudite and patient investigations have resulted in the accumulation 

 of a vast amount of valuable information respecfting the traditions 

 and superstitions connedled with the plant kingdom. Mr. Kelly's 

 interesting work on Indo-European Tradition, published some 

 years ago, dealt, among other subjedts, with that of plant lore, and 

 drew attention to the analogy existing between the myths and 

 folk-lore of India and Europe relating more especially to plants 

 which were reputed to possess magical properties. Among such 

 plants, peculiar interest attaches to a group which, according 

 to Aryan tradition, sprang from lightning — the embodiment of fire, 

 the great quickening agent : this group embraces the Hazel, 

 the Thorn, the Hindu Sami, the Hindu Palasa, with its European 

 congener the Rowan, and the Mistletoe: the two last-named 

 plants were, as we have seen, employed in Druidic rites. These 

 trees are considered of good omen and as protedlives against 

 sorcery and witchcraft : from all of them wishing-rods (called in 

 German Wilnschelruthen) and divining-rods have been wont to be 

 fashioned — magical wands with which, in some countries, cattle are 

 still struck to render them prolific, hidden springs are indicated, 

 and mineral wealth is discovered. Such a rod was thought to be 

 the caduceus of the god Hermes, or Mercury, described by Homer as 

 being a rod of prosperity and wealth. All these rods are cut with a 

 forked end, a shape held to be symbolic of lightning and a rude 

 effigy of the human form. It is interesting to note that in the 

 Rigveda the human form is expressly attributed to the pieces of 

 Asvattha wood used for kindling the sacred fire — a purpose 

 fulfilled by the Thorn in the chark or instrument employed for 

 producing fire by the Greeks. Another group of plants also 

 conne(fted with fire and lightning comprises the Mandrake (the 

 root of which is forked like the human form), the Fern Poly- 

 podium Filix mas (which has large pinnate leaves), the Sesame 

 (called in India Thunderbolt-flower), the Spring-wort, and the 

 Luck-flower. The Mandrake and Fern, like King Solomon's 

 Baharas, are said to shine at night, and to leap about like a Will-o'- 

 the-wisp : indeed, in Thuringia, the Fern is known as Irrkraut, or 



