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CHAPTER VIII. 



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E have seen, in a former chapter, how intimate has 

 been the association between flowers and the 

 Fairies, Pixies, or Elves, and, therefore, it is not 

 surprising to find that the Kmg of Fairies, Puck, 

 has a plant specially dedicated to him. This is 

 the Lycopevdon, or Puckfist. Dr. Prior points out 

 that in some old works Puck, who has the credit 

 of being partial to coarse practical jokes, is 

 alluded to as no other than the Devil. His very name would seem 

 to be derived from Pogge, a toad, which in popular opinion was the 

 impersonation of the Devil : hence Toadstools, Pixie-stools, or 

 Paddock-stools, were thought to be but Devil's droppings — the 

 work of those Elves 



" Whose pastime 

 Is to make moonlight Mushrooms." 



In Sussex, the Puff-ball is called Puck's Stool, and the needle of 

 the Scandix Pectcn is called Pook-needle. 



Loki, the Scandinavian malignant spirit, possesses many of 

 the characteristics of Puck, and is in point of fact the Devil of the 

 old Norse mythology. In Jutland, Polytnchum commune is called 

 Loki's Oats, and the Yellow Rattle is known there as Loki's Purse. 

 The Trolls, a race of gigantic demons, or evil spirits, spoken of in 

 Northern mythology, have given their name to the Globe-flower 

 (Twllins), which is also known as the Troll-flower, probably on 

 account of its acrid and poisonous qualities having suggested its 

 use by these followers of the Devil. 



Speaking generally, trees, plants, and herbs of evil omen may 

 be placed in the category of plants of the Devil, and amongst them 

 must be included such as have the reputation of being accursed, 

 enchanted, unlucky, and sorrowful. The plants dedicated to 

 Hecate, the Grecian goddess of Hell, who presided over magic 

 and enchantments, as well as those made use of by her daughters 

 Medea and Circe, in their sorceries, were all satanic. Circe was 

 specially distinguished for her knowledge of venomous herbs, and 

 in later times the plants used by her were universally employed by 



