130 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
ST. JOHN’S WORT. 
SUPERSTITION. 
This plant, to which ancient superstition 
attributed the virtue of defending persons from 
phantoms and spectres, and driving away devils, 
whence it was called Fuga Demonum, has 
been named by modern bigotry St. John’s-wort. 
For the same reason it was also called Sol ter- 
restres, the Terrestrial Sun, because the spirits 
of darkness were believed to vanish at the ap¬ 
proach of that luminary. Growing close to the 
earth, its large yellow flower, whose hundreds of 
chives form so many rays, headed by spark-like 
anthers, it reminds us of small wheel-fireworks, 
and forms a happy contrast with the azure 
flowers of the periwinkle. 
It forms an appropriate emblem of superstition, 
but by some is regarded as a symbol of happi¬ 
ness, on account of the happy confidence with 
which it inspires the fond believers in its imagi¬ 
nary virtues. 
