ABSTRACT
Human life is almost everywhere on this globe interwoven with, and to a great extent dependent upon, plant life. Botany is a relatively modern invention, and at that limited to the understanding of the happy few. Thus it is not surprising that before the scientific mode of looking at plant life, and side by side with it, there should go a more humble discipline, if this fairly pretentious name may safely be given to a set of beliefs or superstitions held by man on the subject of the vegetable kingdom. The herbals, which are filled with curious lore of this type, will even connect plants with astrology and the various properties ascribed to the planets by that pseudo-science. Certain plants are associated with the chthonic powers and were therefore tabooed as early as the time of Pythagoras. Certain trees have a special reputation of being seats for demonic powers.
