Mythology is the oldest way of understanding the world. The ancient Slavs, like most peoples, divided the whole world into the upper, "upper", where the gods lived, into the middle, "long-distance", in which people lived, and the lower, the world of the dead or hell.
The ancient Slavs represented the world as a “world tree”, the top of which rested against the sky, and the roots descended to the underground waters. Above its branches were the sun or the moon, in the crown there were sacred birds — an eagle, a nightingale; a squirrel ran along the trunk, bees swarming, snakes, frogs and beavers lived in the roots. The whole tree as a whole could also be understood as a man, most often a woman: Russian embroidery depicted a tree or a woman between two horsemen, deer, birds.
Among the Slavs, like all the inhabitants of the forest belt, a bear was surrounded by exceptional veneration. His power, much greater than the strength of any forest creature, his deft climbing trees caused admiration of ancient hunters, and the cases of walking on his hind legs made him look like people, which was shaped in the minds of primitive people in ideas about their kinship with bears. The bear was called native, father, grandfather, and this exaltation was preserved in Russian folk tales and songs.
As with any totem animal (an animal that was used as an object of religious worship by tribal groups), our ancestors periodically organized a ritual hunt for a bear, and then a ritual eating of meat and blood by the entire community, after which the remnants of the meal were buried. The ancient hunters believed that by eating a piece of bear meat or having tasted the blood of a bear, they would acquire all the properties of their totem, and most importantly, they would be as strong as this beast. 
Many archaeological finds in the Slavic barrows of the Upper Volga region and Ladoga region, such as ritual burials of bears, amulets from bear claws, remains of bear paws and their clay forms, testify to the bear cult of the ancient Slavs. The ancient bear cult is also represented in the town of Tushemlya (VII-VIII centuries) in the Smolensk region. In the center of the settlement, behind a picket fence stood a vryty pole, the top of which was crowned by a bear's skull.
Particular attention should be paid to the cult of bear paws among the Slavs. It was believed that they protect livestock from wild predators, so every livestock owner wanted to have such an amulet. Due to the fact that there were not enough real bear paws, they began to make their dummies, which, as it was believed, have the same magical properties as the real bear paws. N. M. Nikolsky describes the following peasant customs associated with a belief in the guarding functions of a bear: “For the sake of protection from evil forces, the Russian peasant hangs a bear head to the stable, fumigates the house and outbuildings with bear hair, invites the bear cub and asks him to circle the bear around the yard ". The bear's paw itself was called cattle god and hung out even at the beginning of the 20th century. in the courtyards of peasants near Moscow. 
The god of bones in the mythology of the Slavs was Volos (Veles). B. A. Rybakov believes that the worship of Volos is rooted in a bearish cult. This is indicated by many coincidences, which, precisely because of their number, are nonrandom. First, the traces of a bearish cult as a result of excavations were found in a village called Volosovo. Secondly, in the center of the city of Rostov, Yaroslavl region, where there was a pagan temple of Volos, archaeologists found a ritual ax with a bear's head. Thirdly, according to the Slavic beliefs, the Pleiades constellation, which was called “Volosyn” in ancient times, foreshadows a successful bear hunt. And, finally, the name of the bears paw "bestial god" also indicates the connection of the cult of this animal with the cult of Veles. 
The bear was the most revered animal of the Slavs. But other forest animals were surrounded by veneration: wolves, wild boars, hares, elks, lynxes. The wolf was a totem of many Indo-European tribes. The cohesion of the wolves into a pack, the distribution of functions within the pack (“the laws of the pack”) reminded the ancient people of their own team, which led to ideas about the kinship of humans with wolves. The fact that the wolf is the most frequent character in the fairy tales of the Slavic peoples of all wild animals indicates the special respect of the wolf among the Slavs. In addition, the Slavic peoples have personal male names: Wolf, Vuk, and the diminutive Vuchko (just like the Germans are commonly known as Wolf).
In our consciousness, the image of a wolf is endowed with mostly negative characteristics. This is not exactly the case in Russian folklore: the wolf often helps the heroes of fairy tales, he is considered the devourer of devils (originally: evil spirits), and meeting with the wolf on the way is a good omen. In the Serbs, it is believed that a wolf can predict a harvest.
In general, in Slavic mythology, the wolf is a creature endowed with the gift of omniscience. Even in Russian folk tales, he appears as a beast, if not omniscient, then tempted in various matters. Moreover, according to Slavic beliefs, people possessing the gift of supernatural knowledge can turn into wolves. In some Slavic languages, werewolves are called names derived from the verb vedati (the word vedomci, vedun-ci; ukr. Vishchuni).
No less than animals, the Slavs worshiped plants. They revered both individual trees, something distinguished (large hollow, for example, or struck by a lightning strike), and whole groves.
Of the trees, the Slavs most of all revered oak and birch, which can be explained by the widespread prevalence of these trees in the zone of settlement of the Slavs, as well as their economic importance. Oak has long been revered as a tree associated with a thunderstorm. Until now, people consider it dangerous to be under an oak in a thunderstorm, because it attracts lightning. In the pagan mythology of the Slavs, oak is the tree of Perun, the god of thunder. Medieval toponymy knows the tract Perunov oak in the Galician land, and the ritual of worshiping oak is described by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus in the treatise "On government". The author talks about the difficult and dangerous transition of Russian lodi through the Dnieper rapids. After this transition, the Ruses on the island of Khortitsa offer thanksgiving. “They make their sacrifices on this island, as there is a huge oak tree there: they sacrifice live roosters, strengthen them and arrows around (oak), and others - pieces of bread, meat and what everyone has as their custom dictates. They also cast lots for roosters: either slaughter them, or eat them, or let them go alive. ”
The section of the Dnieper, where the events described above took place, was called “Perunya Ren”. The fact that the idols of this god were usually made of oak is also indicating the connection of the oak with Perun. With the adoption of Christianity by Russia, the oak as a tree of Perun "fell into disfavor". And, secondly, a certain transformation of this image took place in the national consciousness: by virtue of its connection with the thunderstorm and the pagan god of the thunderstorm, the oak was declared an unclean tree.
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Aconite (Greek akoniton, lat. Aconitum) - one of the most poisonous flowering plants. Russian folk names of some species of this flower are “wrestler-root”, “wolf root”, “wolf”, ““ king-grass ”,“ black root ”,“ goat death ”,“ lumbago-grass ”and others. Poison flower from root to pollen. In ancient times, the Greeks and the Chinese made it a poison for arrows. Folk names of the plant "wolf", "wolf's poison" are explained by the fact that earlier a wrestler was used to bait wolves - decoction of the root was treated with bait. In Nepal, they also poisoned the bait for large predators and drinking water when attacking the enemy.
The etymology of the name is unclear, some associate this flower with the ancient Greek city of Akone, in the vicinity of which aconites grew in abundance, others produce its name from Greek. Aconae - “rock, cliff” or Acontion - “arrows”. The toxicity of a plant is caused by the content of alkaloids in it, which, acting on the central nervous system, cause paralysis of the respiratory center.
To collect the divine cactus Peyotl, who did not grow in their country, the Huicholi made a special trip to Virakutu once a year, furnishing their enterprise with special rituals. The Indians of this tribe believe that their ancestors came out of this desert and represent it as a kind of paradise, a sacred space, essentially belonging to the other world. In fact, this physical journey is a reflection of the spiritual penetration into the world of spirits, which the Huicholi gained access to in rituals of peyotl.
Throughout history, we composed mythological stories and endowed almost everything that is under the Sun with magical powers. However, trees are perhaps one of the most logical candidates for attributing such qualities. After all, trees are filled with life force, they live much longer than people, and rise above almost all living things on Earth.
10. Kalpavriksha (Kalpa Tree)
Kalpavriksha, also known as kalpatar, is a desire tree, but its mythology is much more complex. Kalpavriksha is not just one particular tree in Indian mythology - it is a whole spiritual concept. However, the fulfillment of desires may not be the most direct translation, since the meaning of the tree is not to be a genie that can fulfill your every desire. Kalpavriksha is worshiped because people believe that they are associated with the divine.
Even Alexander of Macedon set out in search of these trees in the hope that his wishes would be fulfilled. Like many people, he was attracted by the idea to receive without any effort all the earthly blessings that he could only wish for. There are many trees in India that are considered more or less sacred, depending on the statements that were made by people telling whether their wishes were fulfilled. Many of these trees are still frequented by people, and at these trees people leave gifts in the hope of gaining the favor of the gods. One tree in India is believed to have the power to help people in court, and those who go to a neighboring court often pray to the tree before it.
9. Eternal Banyan Tree
This Banyan tree is the kind of tree under which the Buddha sat, in accordance with some legends, but its mythological significance is much deeper. While banyans are real trees, there are many beliefs about their magical nature that persist to this day. One story tells about a father who sent his son to pluck a fruit from a tree and look at the seeds inside. Then he told the boy to open one of the seeds and tell him what he saw inside. The boy said that he saw nothing, and his father explained that nothing came out of that banyan.
In this story, he uses this as a lesson to explain how much life and greatness can come from such smallness. Nevertheless, the tree has a truly mythical powers, in addition to its stunning size. Many people are still convinced that the banyan roots never stop growing, they grow down into the earth and lead to a real eternal tree. Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, according to legend, a felled banyan will take advantage of its powerful roots deep underground to return to its former glory.
8. Nariphon
One of the strangest folk tales ever told, comes from Thailand and talks about what is called Narifon. Legend has it that the prince’s wife was exiled to the Himvanti forest, where she stumbled upon trees that had very strange fruit growing — miniature women. According to the legends, these trees were supposed to protect our heroine during her journeys through the forests, because the women were immune to their magic. However, according to the legend, these trees were very dangerous for men.
If a man cut Narifon, or tore off a fruit woman from his branches, and then engaged in sex with her, he became sterile. If he possessed some magical abilities, then he also lost them. The strangest part of the legend is that these fruit girls are described in many stories, and their body length is about 20 centimeters, so even if you exert your imagination, it is quite difficult to imagine how a man would succeed.
7. Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is an ancient Scandinavian tree of life, and a very important part of the stories about the god Odin. According to the myths, Odin hoped to gain more wisdom, so he set off on a journey on his horse, Sleipnir. In the course of the action, which traced several parallels with the history of Christ, Odin hanged himself on a world tree, and hung on it for a total of nine days and nine nights. One was also pierced with a spear, although in this myth he hurts himself. The myths also say that after long trials, Odin still managed to get the wisdom he was looking for from the magic runes.
In some stories, the tree of life is more than just a symbolic tree on which Odin hanged himself. Most likely, it is also an interpretation of the heavens themselves. It is sometimes described with an eagle on top, which was associated with Odin, and a serpent below, which was an underworld.
6. Jinmenju
While the fruit girls from Thai folklore are a bit strange, they still have a certain innocence. However, their Japanese cousin, Jinmenju, is much more difficult to handle. In the myths, these trees grow in mountainous areas, as a rule, very rarely and far from the place where someone could confirm their existence. What makes these trees unique is that their fruits are actually human faces. These people laugh when people are passing by, and probably could force an ordinary person to run without looking back in the opposite direction.
Fortunately, Jimenju doesn’t really attack people, and if you laugh at a tree, the fruit will begin to shake and fall to the ground. If you have a passionate desire to taste the human face, and you can find one of these mythological trees, you are lucky, because according to legend, the taste of heads resembles the taste of citrus fruits.
5. Zakkum (Tree Of Zaqqum)
Zakkum is mentioned in the Quran several times and according to legend, it exists only in hell. It contains very bitter fruits that feed people in hell, who ask for something to eat. It is believed that this demonic tree is powered directly by the flames of hellfire. Excerpts from the Qur'an explain that when the inhabitants of hell begin to go crazy with hunger, they have no choice but to eat the disgusting-smelling fruit from Zakkum.
But that's not all: after the damned inhabitants of hell eat the fruit, from which their faces fall away, they are given a terrible brew from boiling liquid for drinking. This causes their bodies to fall apart into a melted pile of flesh and bones. Then they go back to hellfire and repeat the process. It really doesn't matter what religion mythology tells the story: Hell sounds pretty scary in any of them.
4. Whispering Oak Of Dodona
Photo: Fingalo
This mythical oak tree comes from Greek mythology and was one of the first oracles of Zeus in ancient times. The tree itself could not speak human language, but, like any tree, its leaves rustled in the wind, and made a noise. While it is rather difficult to say for certain who first came up with this idea, according to some sources, the first oracle of Dodona was most likely an Egyptian priestess who was kidnapped and brought to this area.
While the tree did have a true story, it also appeared in mythology. In the history of the Argonauts, the gods told Jason to use a tree branch in the construction of his ship to secure his journey. In the Iliad, Achilles also went to Dodona to receive instruction. Unfortunately, the real tree was cut down after Christianity became the dominant religion in this area.
3. The Celestial Tree (Sky-High Tree)
This folk tale from Hungary begins with the fact that the shepherd boy snuck into the royal garden. He saw a magnificent tree and decided that he absolutely needed to climb on it. As he climbed higher and higher, he met some of the most fantastic things he had ever seen. High in the sky, at the top of the tree, he found whole temples, castles and beautiful landscapes. However, the Hungarians are not the only ones who have a heaven tree in mythology.
In Siberian mythology, legends about a tree that reaches the heavens are quite popular. In these legends, a tree has a more important task than being a place of miracles, it literally keeps heaven above. According to ancient myths, the sky needs something to support. However, there are some differences between the legends. Some believe that a tree does not necessarily hold the sky, that it actually passes through it, but according to other legends the tree bends when it reaches the top of the sky. However, in both cases, the tree is a kind of portal to other worlds. If you manage to get to the very top of the Celestial Tree, you will find an entrance to any version of paradise.
2. Lotus Tree
While the lotus flower is certainly a real thing, the lotus tree has been present in various mythologies for a long time. And given that it has passed through several cultures, the stories about this tree are very different from each other. The Greeks may have had one of the strangest versions. According to the Greek myth, there was a young goddess named Lotus, and she eventually turned into a tree to protect herself from the unwanted sexual harassment of another god named Priapus.
The fruits of the lotus tree also appear in Homer's legends when Odysseus and his people land on the ground of the Lotus Eaters. When these people ate the fruit from the tree, they were so tasty that they made them forget about everything that was important to them in life. This myth has led to the emergence of the term Lotofag to describe people who lead a decadent lifestyle, but, in fact, live boring and meaningless lives.
The name of the lotus itself is of great importance in many religious beliefs, and is also mentioned in connection with God. Some myths say that in Paradise, at the right hand of God, the Lotus tree grows. In addition, some myths endow the idea of the tree and the presence of divinity with symbolic meaning. In essence, the symbol of God above the lotus shows how the divine can transcend the material world.
1. Jubokko
According to folklore, if you ever go to Japan, you should look around well before approaching any tree, because it may turn out to be Jücokko. This tree is extremely deceptive, and from a distance it looks like an absolutely harmless tree. However, if you look closely, you will notice that its branches look strangely capable of grabbing things, and if you pay attention to the base of the tree, you will see human remains that have accumulated in a pile. If you run into something like this, run as fast as you can until you are the next victim of the vampire tree.
The trees of Dzyubokko were once ordinary trees, existing according to the laws of ordinary trees, until the land on which they grew was stained with blood. When the roots of the trees were covered with blood, they turned into otherworldly, evil tree spirits that feed exclusively on blood. If you get too close to one of these trees, it will grab you with its long hands, and squeeze with you with its processes in you, and then suck all the beautiful red fluid out of your body. Then your body will be left as a bloated corpse for birds of prey, and no, Jyubokko will not call you the next day.
In the mass consciousness, witchcraft is almost inseparable from the use of various gifts of flora. Witches are made from plants of potions, incense, drinks of various properties, use herbs and roots in the manufacture of candles, creams ... And this is the rare case when the mass consciousness is right in relation to witches! Parts of plants are truly indispensable in daily magical practice. What plants are exactly worth having in your magic cabinet, and which plants in the kitchen cabinet, how to use them and where to get them - all this is in our new article!
How does plant magic work?
Plants are children of the earth itself, they are its continuation, each blade of grass is a piece of the reality code of our Earth. Plants keep in itself its strength, and we can use it.
One cannot say better about what plant magic is based on than what was said in Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Plants. Give the word to the master of Wiccan magic:
The basis of plant magic - and any other magic - is power. Over the centuries, this power had a variety of names and forms; sometimes its very existence was kept secret; at other times, knowledge of her was widespread.
This is the force that created and supports the universe. This is the force that makes the seeds germinate, the wind to blow, and our planet to rotate. This is the power behind birth, life and death. Everything in the universe was created by it, contains a particle of it and is capable of responding to it. In other words, it is the life force, the substance of creation. It is the substance of existence itself.
Accordingly, it does not matter what tradition you practice. The magic of plants is universal, this is its beauty.
Mythical plants
From the earliest times, people attributed magical properties to plants, and some plants were especially marked, fanned by myths and legends.
For example, fern flower. The Slavs believed that the fern blooms once a year, on the night of Ivan Kupala, and those who pick this flower will receive special abilities - they will see all the treasures, wherever they are hidden, take on any appearance, become invisible, and so on. In short, it will literally be superman. Of course, the evil forces in every way prevent a person from finding such a flower and plucking it. So you can easily get lost on the way to the coveted meadow with a fern, and waiting for a flower, lose your head in a fight with evil spirits.
Unfortunately, the fern never blooms, in fact, this plant reproduces by spores. And the legend is beautiful and seductive - I just want to stock up on Thursday salt and go to the forest to look for happiness ...
Unlike the fern flower, mandrake root It really exists and is very often mentioned in medieval witch recipes. There are at least two reasons for such fame.
- The mandrake root is shaped like a human body. In fact, not always, but it was these roots that were always valued above all, and especially those on which male and female sex characteristics could be considered - such a mandrake was called “male” and “female”, respectively.
- Mandragora is poisonous, its ingestion can cause serious harm to the body - accordingly, a plant with such power was inevitably considered magical and dangerous.
According to legend, when you try to pull it out of the ground, the plant shrinks, tries to get back into the ground, and if you do pull it out, it makes a loud cry that kills or makes you mad who dared to get the mandrake root. Probably, this belief served as a kind of "protection from a fool." First, an uneducated and ignorant person could simply poison himself and die, and secondly, it was believed that a mandrake could give advice and point out treasures, respectively, it could be expensive to sell, and it was completely undesirable that everyone could get it on their own.
In the voodoo tradition, the mandrake can be used as a doll for rituals of sympathetic magic.
Still, of course, mythology and culture retained references to the red root, the rift-grass, and even man-eating trees, but we will not dwell on them. Let's move on to more practical things.
In what form are plants used in magic
Let's try to present a more or less capacious classification of herbs and plants used in magic.
Fresh herbs and plants (rhizomes, branches, etc.). Small vegetable raw materials can be used similarly to dried, but in most cases, dried is still better: it does not become moldy and will normally fester or burn if necessary. Another thing is tree branches. Of these, you can make a broom, dream catcher, or other magical trap.
Fruit. Dried berries and fruits (for example, lingonberries, raspberries, hawthorn) are used similarly to other dried plant raw materials.
Separately, we note magical fruits and vegetables. They usually do not pay attention in such articles, and in vain. For example, an apple is a truly magical fruit, with which you can make a love spell and fulfill desires. In defensive magic at home, onions and garlic can be used (bundles of garlic and onions, stored by grandmothers on the wall in the corner, immediately acquire a special meaning, right?), Red pepper (for example, you can bury the pod under the threshold, repeating the plot to protect the house).
Live plants. Geranium, for example, has a strong smell and frightens off not only mole, but also perfume. Living lavender perfectly cleans the space. Pomegranate is a symbol of fertility and a happy marriage, so it will be an excellent talisman for the family. And in general, any living plants standing on the window are a ward.
How to use plants in magic
See how to use herbs in witchcraft - here are some ways. With examples! A matching plant magic one way or another you will find below.
Make the plant part of the ritual. - for example, burning it. For this purpose, ideal grass for fumigation. Suppose you want to clean the apartment of negative energies. Wormwood is ideal for these purposes. Prepare bundles of wormwood in advance, they will always come in handy in witchcraft practice! So, take a branch or a bunch of well-dried wormwood, set it on fire and extinguish after a few seconds, waving it in the air. Wormwood will smolder and give a lot of smoke. Fumigate this room with smoke.
If you do not have a finished wormwood or you want to use another plant, take, for example, California white sage in bunches or blue sage and Palo Santo.
Use plants inside in the form of tea drinks and infusions. We especially recommend tea drinks. And not only because we have a large range of them. There are two advantages over infusions: firstly, infusions and balms contain alcohol, but there are no teas, respectively, there is no negative impact on the body and the legality of driving, for example; secondly, having brewed tea, you can get a fresh flavored drink at any time. Hot, and this is good, since hot drinks of any kind act on a person more strongly than cold drinks and lead well to a reasonable, calm state, optimal for magical work of any kind.
Add plants to the candles. The easiest way is to roll a wax candle in the grassed grass. To better stick, a candle can be heated in the palms or smeared with essential oil. For example, a green candle (green lures money) rub and roll it, for example, in a basil. Based on such a candle, you can create your own candlestick ritual. An example of such a ritual as 
times with a green candle to raise money, you will find. Similarly, you can create a candle for love, and a candle for any other purposes. A little more difficult is making candles at home using herbs. But the process is very exciting, we recommend trying.
Use plants as talismans and amulets. You can create your own talisman sachet. For example, to attract love. Do not forget to visualize the desired result throughout your process! So sew a bag of natural fabric, cotton or silk. Choose the appropriate color for the task - red for love, purple for passion, pink for tender and romantic relationships. Fill it with dried plants dedicated to love. For example, you can choose pink buds, jasmine, lavender - any of them. To enhance the flavor and effect, you can drip inside, in herbs, essential oil for love. Sew or tie a bag and place it by the bed, in a car, or carry it with you.
Witch's magical plants and herbs
Let us turn to the magical correspondences of herbs and plants. Below you will find lists of plants corresponding to a particular magical task. Use these plants in any of the ways listed above (with the exception of poisonous ones, but this moment on our website, for example, is always indicated in the description), create your rituals and ceremonies based on this information, conjure and explore the magical world of magical plants.
To facilitate astral travel
Jasmine, cinnamon, sandalwood, poplar.
For fortune telling
Orange, anise, clove (spice), meadowsweet, orris root (iris root).
Plants to attract money and wealth
Air, orange, basil, elderberry, verbena, vetiver, carnation (spice), heliotrope, tree aloe, jasmine, honeysuckle, ginger, hyssop, cedar, clover, cinnamon, bloodroot, almonds, myrtle, nutmeg, mint, patchouli, chamomile , pine, dill, sage.
For meditation and spiritual practices
Gardenia, Jasmine, Kopal, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Lotus, Myrrh, Palo Santo, Sandalwood, Pine, Sage.
For defensive magic
Air, anise, lotus, mandrake, mimosa, myrrh, bizilik, valerian, verbena, heather, vetiver, geranium, clove (spice), hyacinth, acacia, dragon's blood, angelica, honeysuckle, hyssop, cedar, cypress, clover, copal, cinnamon, lavender, frankincense, lime, flax, juniper, mint, mistletoe, palo santo, fern, hot red pepper, wormwood, ruta, sandalwood, lilac, pine, cumin, dill, fennel, black pepper, thistle, sage, eucalyptus .
Plants for health and healing magic
Sweet flag, carnation (flower), dagil, honeysuckle, willow, cedar, coriander, cinnamon, laurel, meadow, rosemary, sandalwood, pine, thyme, saffron, eucalyptus.
Plants for love magic
Apricot, orange, basil, vanilla, verbena, vetiver, gardenia, cloves, geranium, hibiscus, dragon's blood, sweet peas, jasmine, ylang-ylang, ginger, cumin, dug, coriander, cinnamon, catfish, red jasmine, lavender lime, lemon, lotus, mimosa, myrtle, neroli, juniper, orchid, rosemary, rose, chamomile, thyme, yarrow, dill, violet, apple tree.
Fairy tales and legends are full of mythical plants and animals. The world around us is full of new, undescribed species, but we continue to invent new representatives of flora and fauna. My today's post is devoted to plants from old myths and legends. 
The first thing that comes to mind is a four-leaf clover that promises great luck to its owner. This symbol of luck is so popular that it is hunted in many countries. Although it is difficult to find, such a clover is quite a real plant. I confess that in my life I have not seen one. In the fantastic animated series “Futurama” it was told about a seven-leaf clover, which brought fantastic luck.
Many fabulous flowers or trees in reality had prototypes, but not all legends are based on reality. The most vivid example is the fern flower. The Slavic peoples have a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala you have to go to the forest in search of a flowering fern. Further, the legends diverge in the testimony, such a flower can promise love, good luck and countless wealth. In the latter case, you need to look for treasure on the spot where they found this fabulous flower (strongly reminiscent of stories about the end of the rainbow and leprechauns). But the fern flower is just a figment of fantasy storytellers. These ancient plants reproduce by spores, which can be seen on the inner surface of the "leaf", so that ferns never bloom. Alas. But the legend continues to live, now it is part of the summer entertainment, and no one cares about the result; the search process is much more interesting.
In Chinese mythology, the five-colored Ji mushroom is very popular, which is a symbol of the infinite wisdom of the prince and is able to work wonders, even to the resurrection of the dead. Medieval writings mention green, red, yellow, white and even Zhi purple mushrooms. The five-color zhi is a magical relative of the Lin Zhi (or tinder) mushroom, which was considered very healing and was even called an immortality mushroom.
In ancient Greece, there existed the legendary food of the gods - ambrosia, which granted immortality and youth to anyone who tastes it. According to various sources, Demeter invented her, or she is produced by the moon or moonlight. Now this beautiful name is ordinary grass, which is a dangerous weed, and its pollen can cause hay fever. Not very divine, is it?
In Greek mythology, there was another mysterious plant - the Lotus Tree, the fruits of which caused a pleasant slumber. The people who ate these fruits forgot their relatives and friends and remained to live on the island in laziness, eating only from this tree. Some analogy of the modern Internet. This myth has led to the emergence of the term Lotofag to describe people who lead a decadent lifestyle, but, in fact, live boring and meaningless lives.
One of the most dangerous representatives of the flora for people is a man-eating plant - this is a very popular urban legend at the end of the 19th century. These plants were large enough and bloodthirsty to feed on humans. Travelers of that time loved to describe such “predators” in their notes; apparently, this gave charm and romanticism to their memoirs.
Umdglebi plant, which destroys everything living around itself with carbonic acid vapors, belongs to this variety. An article about him appeared in Nature in 1882, but for more than 130 years since its publication, there is still no other evidence of its existence. Therefore, it is recognized as a hoax.
In many mythologies, the plants themselves did not possess any mysterious powers, but were dwellings of spirits. For example, in Yakutia, the legend of Al onion mas - an old tree where the mistress of the area lives is very popular. Very old birches or larches were chosen for the role of Al onion mas, these trees were treated with respect, their branches could not be broken by any means.
Often in ancient times, the trees themselves were some kind of divine symbol connecting different matters: the roots go back into the ground, and the branches high into the sky. Apparently, that is why many peoples had legends about the world tree - the tree, uniting all aspects of the universe. In the Scandinavian myths, it was a huge ash tree (Yggdrasil), which is the structural basis of all things and combines the nine worlds. A wise eagle sits on the top of Yggdrasil, and its roots are gnawed by snakes and a dragon, and there is a squirrel that carries messages between the eagle and the pests of the roots. Descriptions of all the functions of this tree go into the details of Scandinavian mythology and without preparation to understand all its roots and branches is extremely difficult.
However, the largest collection of mystical plants is, of course, in
