In Brittany, vervain is popularly termed the "herb of the cross," and
when gathered with a certain formula is efficacious in curing wounds.
[21]
In legendary lore, much uncertainty exists as to the tree on which
Judas hanged himself. According to Sir John Maundeville, there it stood
in the vicinity of Mount Sion, "the tree of eldre, that Judas henge himself
upon, for despeyr," a legend which has been popularly received.
Shakespeare, in his "Love's Labour's Lost," says "Judas was hanged on an
elder," and the story is further alluded to in Piers Plowman's vision:--
"Judas, he japed
With Jewen silver,
And sithen on an eller,
Hanged himselve."
Gerarde makes it the wild carob, a tree which, as already stated, was
formerly known as "St. John's bread," from a popular belief that the
Baptist fed upon it while in the wilderness. A Sicilian tradition identifies
the tree as a tamarisk, and a Russian proverb, in allusion to the aspen,
tells us "there is an accursed tree which trembles without even a breath
of wind." The fig, also, has been mentioned as the ill-fated tree, and some
traditions have gone so far as to say that it was the very same one as was
cursed by our Lord.
As might be expected, numerous plants have become interwoven
with the lives of the saints, a subject on which many works have been
written. Hence it is unnecessary to do more than briefly note some of the
more important items of sacred lore which have been embodied in many
of the early Christian legends. The yellow rattle has been assigned to St.
Peter, and the Primula veris, from its resemblance to a bunch of keys, is
St. Peter's wort. Many flowers, too, from the time of their blossoming,
have been dedicated to certain saints, as the square St. John's wort
(Hypericum quadrangulare), which is also known as St. Peter's wort;
while in Germany wall-barley is termed Peter's corn. Of the many
legends connected with the cherry we are reminded that on one occasion
Christ gave one to St. Peter, at the same time reminding him not to
despise little things.
St. James is associated with several plants--the St. James' wort
(Senecio Jacoboea), either from its having been much used for the
diseases of horses, of which the saint was the patron, or owing to its
blossoming on his festival. The same name was applied to the shepherd's
purse and the rag-weed. Incidentally, too, in our chapter on the calendar
we have alluded to many flowers associated with the saints, and spoken
of the customs observed in their honour.