130 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
ST. JOHN’S WORT. 
SUPEHSTITIOX. 
This plant, ta which ancient superstition attri¬ 
buted the virtue of defending'persons from phantoms 
and spectres, and driving away devils, whence it 
was called Fuga JDemonum, has been named by 
modern bigotry St. John’s-wort. For the same 
reason it was also called Solterrestres, the Terrestrial 
Sun, because the spirits of darkness were believed 
to vanish at the approach of that luminary. Grow¬ 
ing 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 happiness, 
on account of the happy confidence with which it 
inspires the fond believers in its imaginary virtues. 
