RELIGION IN THE PLANT WORLD 
Mistletoe is especially fanciful. The Mistle- 
toe is alleged to have been originally a full- 
sized tree but because of its ignoble part in the 
great Christian tragedy, it was reduced to its 
present parasitical form. 
Every saint in the Catholic calendar has his 
own particular flower, either because of some 
incident in his life with which it was connected 
or because of arbitrary dedication. Care has 
been taken to pick flowers which are in 
bloom at the time of the festival of the saint 
which they represent. In this way, the flowers 
of the field make a living, religious time-piece. 
Among the individual sacred flowers, Orchids 
and Lotus-Blossoms have probably been known 
and reverenced as much as any. There is small 
wonder that sentiment approaching veneration 
should exist toward the Orchids. Their singular 
beauty and fragrance have compelled the ad- 
miration of all historic peoples. The primitive 
Mexicans hold them in very great esteem. The 
Lotus-Flower, portrayed through all the ages, 
on papyrus, paper, silk, stone, and wood, has a 
world-wide sanctity. The ancient Egyptians 
worshipped the Lotus in connection with the 
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