Front cover image for Ireland's wild plants : myths, legends and folklore

Ireland's wild plants : myths, legends and folklore

Niall Mac Coitir (Author), Grania Langrishe (Illustrator)
In ancient Ireland there were 365 different body parts, and a different plant to cure each part. So Ireland's wild plants have been part of our culture and folklore from the earliest times, featuring in the Brehon Laws, early Irish poetry and herbal medicine. To carry a four-leaved shamrock brings luck in gambling, putting nine ivy-leaves under her pillow means a girl will dream of her future husband. Here the plants are described in seasonal order, the perspective of our ancestors. Different aspects of plant folklore are examined: their roles in magical protection, in charms and spells (especially for love!), as emblems in children's games, in Irish place names, and folklore cures
Print Book, English, 2015
The Collins Press, Wilton, Cork, 2015
Folklore
375 pages, 28 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 20 cm
9781848892491, 1848892497
921187508
Introduction 1 Aspects of Plant Folklore 4 Major Plants in Folklore Mistletoe 21 Rushes 28 Shamrock/clover 36 Primrose 49 Marsh marigold 54 Nettle 58 Watercress 65 Bluebell 71 Yellow iris 76 Bog-myrtle 81 Meadowsweet 85 Scarlet pimpernel 89 Foxglove 94 Honeysuckle 101 St John's wort 107 Mugwort 114 Yarrow 119 Vervain 125 Mallow 120 Ragwort 133 Heather 139 Bilberry 146 Dog-rose 153 Bramble 159 Bracken 167 Ivy 175 Houseleek 183 Sea wrack 187 Grasses 193 Dandelion 199 Buttercup 205 Dock 208 Charlock 213 Violet 217 Water-lily 222 Mint 226 Umbellifers 230 Forget-me-not 236 Great Mullein 240 Orchid 244 Wood avens 248 Henbane 252 Daisy 255 Centaury 261 Devil's bit scabious 264 Thistle 268 Plantain 274 Lady's-Mantle 278 Poppy 281 Vetch 286 Fungi 291 Lords-and-Ladies 297 Spurge 300 Crane's-bill 302 Butterbur 303 Wild Plants and the Zodiac 305 Postscript 313 Notes on Names 317 References 319 Bibliography 347 Index of Plant Names in English 353 Index of Plant Names in Irish 361 Index of Latin Plant Names 369 General Index 371
"Published in this format in 2015 ... First published in hardcover in 2006; first published in paperback in 2008"--Title page verso
Previous editions published as: Irish wild plants : myths, legends & folklore
Plant names and index also in Irish