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Personality of plants

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MYSTICISM IN THE PLANT WORLD<br />

Flowers are still extensively used as signs<br />

and symbols. There are ponderous volumes<br />

written on the "Language <strong>of</strong> Flowers." All the<br />

garden beauties have a natural symbolism writ-<br />

ten on their faces. Rosemary, with its lingering<br />

colour, is an eternal emblem <strong>of</strong> remembrance.<br />

"Violets dim but sweeter than the lids <strong>of</strong> Juno's<br />

eyes or Cytherea's breath" speak <strong>of</strong> modesty in<br />

quiet tones. The spotless Lily must always stand<br />

for purity.<br />

Other floral symbols have been chosen for<br />

more remote but quite apparent characteristics.<br />

Impatience is indicated by the Balsam seed-<br />

pods, which, when ripe, curl up at the slightest<br />

touch, and shoot forth their seeds with great<br />

violence. A popular name for the plant is<br />

"Touch-Me-Not." The very name <strong>of</strong> Helio-<br />

trope tells <strong>of</strong> its constant turning toward the sun.<br />

It is <strong>of</strong>ten referred to as a symbol <strong>of</strong> devoted attachment.<br />

Aspen, because <strong>of</strong> its tremulous mo-<br />

tion has been made a sign <strong>of</strong> fear. When people<br />

think <strong>of</strong> the Poppy and its narcotic product,<br />

they likewise think <strong>of</strong> sleep and oblivion. A<br />

less apparent symbol is found in the Wild<br />

Anemone, which is taken to denote brevity be-<br />

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