Personality of plants

PLANT MYTHOLOGY
crops up among old plant superstitions. Because
of its structure of enveloping sheaths, the Egyp-
tians rightly considered it a splendid symbol of
the universe. In Christian days, St. Thomas
patronized it. Its cousin, the Leek, bears the
blossom which Welshmen still hail as their na-
tional flower. It is worn by all loyal patriots
on March first, St. David's Day.
The Thistle, Scotland's national flower, was
once sacred to Thor. In those days it was regarded
as a safeguard against lightning, from
which it got its colour. Ireland's Shamrock be-
longs to the Trefoil family, and is sometimes
called Dutch Clover, though the Wood-Sorrel
is claimed by some to be the true Shamrock. St.
Patrick once used it as a natural symbol of the
trinity, through which it became nationalized.
Superstitions of the four-leafed Clover have
lingered in the imaginations of men almost more
than those of any other plant. To be efficacious
in bringing good luck, the little talisman must
be found unawares. If slipped into the shoe
of a lover, it will insure his safe return. The
finding of a five-leaved Clover brings bad luck.
Superstition plays its part in the evolution
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