| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Flowers and Trees. | | |
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(1) Dedicated to heathen gods: | 1 |
| The | Cornel cherry-tree | to Apollo |
| ” Cypress | ” Pluto. |
| ” Dittany | ” The Moon. |
| ” Laurel | ” Apollo. |
| ” Lily | ” Juno. |
| ” Maiden’s-hair | ” Pluto. |
| ” Myrtle | ” Venus. |
| ” Narcissus | ” Cerës. |
| ” Oak | ” Jupiter. |
| ” Olive | ” Minerva. |
| ” Poppy | ” Cerës. |
| ” Vine | ” Bacchus |
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(2) Dedicated to saints; | 2 |
| Canterbury Bells | to St. Augustine of England. |
| Crocus | ” St. Valentine. |
| Crown Imperial | ” Edward the Confessor. |
| Daisy | ” St. Margaret. |
| Herb Christophe | ” St. Christopher. |
| Lady’s-smock | ” The Virgin-Mary. |
| Rose | ” Mary Magdalene. |
| St. John’s-wort | ” St. John. |
| St. Barnaby’s Thistle | ” St. Barnabas. | |
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(3) National emblems: | 3 |
| Leek | emblem of Wales. |
| Lily (Fleur-de-lys) | ” France. |
| ” (Giglio blanco) | ” Florence. |
| ” white | ” the Ghibelline badge. |
| ” red | ” badge of the Guelphs. |
| Linden | ” Prussia. |
| Mignonette | ” Saxony. |
| Pomegranate | ” Spain. |
| Rose | ” England. |
| ” red, Lancastrains; white. | Yorkists. |
| Shamrock | emblem of Ireland. |
| Thistle | ” Scotland. |
| Violet | ” Athens and Napoleon |
| Sugar Maple | ” Canada. | |
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(4) Symbols: | 4 |
| Box | is a symbol of the resurrection. |
| Cedars | ” the faithful. |
| Corn-ears | ” the Holy Communion. |
| Dates | ” the faithful. |
| Grapes | ” this is my blood. |
| Holly | ” the resurrection. |
| Ivy | ” the resurrection. |
| Lily | ” purity |
| Olive | ” peace. |
| Orange-blossom | ” virginity. |
| Palm | ” victory. |
| Rose | ” incorruption. |
| Vine | ” Christ our Life. |
| Yew | ” death. | |
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N.B.—The laurel, oak, olive, myrtle, rosemary, cypress, and amaranth are all funereal plants. |
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