Richard Folkard’s Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics is a comprehensive examination of the myths, traditions, and superstitions associated with the plant kingdom throughout human history. The author sets out to classify and arrange the vast accumulation of plant lore, drawing not only from English traditions but also enriching his collection with Continental and Indian lore. The work is divided into two distinct sections: a detailed thematic digest and a comprehensive encyclopaedia of six hundred plants.
The book opens by exploring world-trees of the ancients, such as the Scandinavian Ash Yggdrasill, the Hindu world-tree, and the Iranian Haoma, which serve as cosmogonic symbols of universal life and generation. From there, the narrative moves to the trees of Paradise, tracing the biblical Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge, alongside the intricate legends connecting the forbidden fruit to the wood of the Cross. Folkard examines how sacred plants were revered by ancient civilizations, including the Parsis, Brahmans, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
A significant portion of the work is dedicated to the integration of plant symbolism within the Christian Church. The author details how the early Church appropriated pagan floral ceremonies, dedicating flowers and trees to the Virgin Mary, saints, and martyrs. Particular attention is given to the flora of Christmas and the Passion, exploring the plants of Gethsemane, the Crown of Thorns, and the wood of the Cross. Conversely, the darker side of plant folklore is also addressed, covering plants of the Devil, the Witches, and the black art, alongside the systematic application of plant signatures.
The later chapters delve into the rich tapestry of folklore surrounding fairies, naiads, sylvan deities, and tree spirits. Folkard discusses the magical properties attributed to certain plants, such as those producing ecstasies, visions, and love, as well as miraculous and fabulous flora. The doctrine of plant signatures, the influence of planets on gardening, and the symbolic language of flowers are meticulously analyzed. The volume concludes with an extensive encyclopaedia that provides the specific history, folklore, and mythology of six hundred individual plants.
