Matthew Hall - The Imagination of Plants: A Book of Botanical Mythology

The Imagination of Plants

SUNY S ERIES ON R ELIGION AND THE E NVIRONMENT

Harold Coward, editor

T HE I MAGINATION OF P LANTS

A Book of Botanical Mythology

MATTHEW HALL

Cover: Ulisse Aldrovandi (15501605). Myrtus Terentina alla. Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna, Ms. 124, Tavole di piante, vol. II, c. 176. Alma Mater Studiorum Universita di Bologna - Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna.

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

2019 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY

www.sunypress.edu

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hall, Matthew, 1980- author.

Title: The imagination of plants : a book of botanical mythology / Matthew Hall.

Description: Albany : State University of New York Press, [2019] | Series: SUNY series on religion and the environment | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018033263 | ISBN 9781438474373 (hardcover : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781438474397 (e-book)

Subjects: LCSH: PlantsMythology. | BotanyMythology.

Classification: LCC BL325.P6 H35 2019 | DDC 398.24/2dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018033263

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Magnolia, Iris, and Hebe

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

The myrtle ( Myrtus communis ), the plant into which Polydorus was transformed. Ulisse Aldrovandi, 15501605. Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna, Ms. 124, Tavole di piante , vol. II, c. 176. Alma Mater Studiorum Universita di BolognaBiblioteca Universitaria di Bologna.

The grey mangrove ( Avicennia marina ). From Luigi Baluganis drawings of African plants, From the collection made by James Bruce of Kinnaird on his travels to discover the source of the Nile 1767-1773 , pl. 76 (1991), by Paul Hulton. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection.

The grey poplar ( Populus x canescens ). From The North American sylva , vol. 2: t. 100 (1817-1819), by F.A. Michaux. Artist P. Bessa. Photograph by Matthew Hall.

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The rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia ). From Flora Danica , fasicle 18, t. 1034 (1761-1883), by G.C. Oeder et al. Courtesy of The Royal Library, National Library of Denmark.

Adam and Eve. Albrecht Drer, 1504. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Viratapurusha (Purua) shown with multiple heads, standing on a pedestal with a long garland of lotus flowers on his shoulders. From Album of 136 illustrations of the History of the world or Creation of the universe . Karikal (Tanjore) and for some pages Masulipatam (Andhra), between 1727 and 1758. Source Bibliothque nationale de France.

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The common Juniper ( Juniperus communis here as Juniperus minor ) is one of four coniferous species in Finland. According to the Kalevala it was sown in stony places by Pellervoinen. From De Historia Stirpium Commentarii Insignes , t. 78 (1542), by Leonhart Fuchs. Image(s) courtesy History of Science Collections, University of Oklahoma Libraries; copyright the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.

The middle column of page 9 shows the Maize God (left) speaking with the creator god Itzamnaaj (right). From the Codex Dresden , also known as Codex Dresdensis , a preconquest pictorial manuscript; ritualcalendrical. Unknown, 1500 (circa). SLUB Dresden, Mscr.Dresd.M.32, digital.slubdresden.de/id272362328.

Cycas angulata, the cycad brought to Yanyuwa country by the Tiger Shark. From Botanical Drawings from Australia plate 159 (1801), by Ferdinand L. Bauer. Copyright Natural History Museum, London.

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Mishima Pass in Kai Province. Travelers embrace the trunk of the ancient Cryptomeria tree (detail). Katsushika Hokusai, 183032. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The common lime ( Tilia x europaea ). From De Historia Stirpium Commentarii Insigne (Notable commentaries on the history of plants), t. 862 (1542), by Leonhart Fuchs. Image(s) courtesy History of Science Collections, University of Oklahoma Libraries; copyright the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.

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Leaves of Ficus religiosa (Peepul, papal, pipul, or Bodhi tree), unknown Indian artist commissioned by William Roxburgh, 17511815. Copyright Kew Gardens.

Yggdrasil, with the animals that live in its branches, including Nhggr who bites the tree from below. From the seventeenthcentury manuscript AM 738 4to. Courtesy of the rni Magnsson Institute, Iceland.

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A priest offers springs of tulsi ( Ocimum tenuiflorum ) to Vishnu. Unknown, 1820 (circa). Trustees of the British Museum

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