FABULOUS PLANTS.

The curious traditions of imaginary plants found amongst most nations have partly a purely mythological origin.  Frequently, too, they may be attributed to the exaggerated accounts given by old travellers, who, “influenced by a desire to make themselves famous, have gone so far as to pretend that they saw these fancied objects.”  Anyhow, from whatever source sprung, these productions of ignorance and superstition have from a very early period been firmly credited.  But, like the accounts given us of fabulous animals, they have long ago been acknowledged as survivals of popular errors, which owed their existence to the absence of botanical knowledge.

We have elsewhere referred to the great world tree, and of the primitive idea of a human descent from trees.  Indeed, according to the early and uncultured belief of certain communities, there were various kinds of animal-producing trees, accounts of which are very curious.  Among these may be mentioned the vegetable lamb, concerning which olden writers have given the most marvellous description.  Thus Sir John Maundeville, who in his “Voyage and Travel” has recorded many marvellous sights which either came under his notice, or were reported to him during his travels, has not omitted to speak of this remarkable tree.  Thus, to quote his words:—­“There groweth a manner of fruit as though it were gourdes; and when they be ripe men cut them in two, and men find within a little beast, in flesh, in bone, and blood—­as though it were a little lamb withouten wolle—­and men eat both the fruit and the beast, and that is a great marvel; of that fruit I have eaten although it were wonderful; but that I know well that God is marvellous in His works.”  Various accounts have been given of this wondrous plant, and in Parkinson’s “Paradisus” it is represented as one of the plants which grew in the Garden of Eden.  Its local name is the Scythian or Tartarian Lamb; and, as it grows, it might at a short distance be taken for an animal rather than a vegetable production.  It is one of the genus Polypodium; root decumbent, thickly clothed with a very soft close hoal, of a deep yellow colour.  It is also called by the Tartars “Barometz,” and a Chinese nickname is “Rufous dog.”  Mr. Bell, in his “Journey to Ispahan,” thus describes a specimen which he saw:—­“It seemed to be made by art to imitate a lamb.  It is said to eat up and devour all the grass and weeds within its reach.  Though it may be thought that an opinion so very absurd could never find credit with people of the meanest understanding, yet I have conversed with some who were much inclined to believe it; so very prevalent is the prodigious and absurd with some part of mankind.  Among the more sensible and experienced Tartars, I found they laughed at it as a ridiculous fable.”  Blood was said to flow from it when cut or injured, a superstition which probably originated in the fact that the fresh root when cut yields a tenacious gum like the blood of animals.  Dr. Darwin, in his “Loves of the Plants,” adopts the fable thus:—­