SACRED PLANTS OF THE ANCIENTS.—The Parsis and the Cypress—The Oak—Sacred Plants and Trees of the Brahmans and Buddhists—Plants Revered by the Burmans—The Cedar, Elm, Ash, Rowan, Baobab, Nipa, Dragon Tree, Zamang, and Moriche Palm—The Nelumbo or Sacred Bean—Plants Worshipped by Egyptians—The Lotus, Henna, and Pomegranate—Sacred Plants of the Græco-Roman Divinities—Plants of the Norse Gods 21 CHAPTER IV. FLORAL CEREMONIES, GARLANDS, AND WREATHS.—The Altars of the Gods—Flowers, Fragrant Woods, and Aromatics—Incense—Perfumes—Ceremonies of the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans—The Roman Triumphs—Festivals of the Terminalia and Floralia—May-day Customs—Well-flowering—Harvest Festivals—Flowers and Weddings—Floral Games of Toulouse and Salency—The Rosière—Rose Pelting—Battle of Flowers—Japanese New Year’s Festival—Wreaths, Chaplets, and Garlands 26 CHAPTER V. PLANTS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.—The Virgin Mary and her Flowers—Joseph’s Plants—The Plants of Bethlehem—Flora of the Flight into Egypt—The Herb of the Madonna—Plants of the Virgin—The Annunciation, Visitation, and Assumption—The Rosary—The Plants of Christmas—The Garden of Gethsemane—Plants of the Passion—The Crown of Thorns—The Wood of the Cross—Veronica—The Plants of Calvary—The Trees and the Crucifixion—The Tree of Judas—Plants of St. John the Baptist—Plant Divination on St. John’s Eve—Flowers of the Saints—The Floral Calendar—Flowers of the Church’s Festivals—Decoration of Churches—Gospel Oaks—Memorial Trees—The Glastonbury Thorn—St. Joseph’s Walnut Tree—St. Martin’s Yew 40 CHAPTER VI. PLANTS OF THE FAIRIES AND NAIADES.—The Elves and the Oak—Elves of the Forest—The Elf of the Fir-tree—The Rose Elf—Moss or Wood Folk—The Black Dwarfs—The Still Folk—The Procca—English Fairies—The Fairy Steed—Fairy Revels—Elf Grass—Fairy Plants—The Cowslip, or Fairy Cup—The Foxglove, or Lusmore—The Four-leaved Clover—The Fairy Unguent—The Russalkis—Naiades and Water Nymphs—The Fontinalia—Fays of the Well 64 CHAPTER VII. SYLVANS, WOOD NYMPHS, AND TREE SPIRITS.—Fauns, Satyrs, Dryads, and Hamadryads—The Laurel Maiden—The Willow Nymph—The Sister of the Flowers—Sacred Groves and their Denizens—The Spirits of the Forest—The Indian Tree Ghosts—The Burmese Nats—The African Wood Spirits—The Waldgeister of the Germans—The Elder-mother—German Tree and Field Spirits