Medieval Latin Religious Names of Plants
From "De Plantis A Divis Sanctisve Nomen Habentibus" by Johannis Bauhin, Basil, 1591 Bauhin documents the Marian and other religious names of plants with source quotes from botanical books in Latin, Gallic (French), German etc. - giving testimony that these names were widely found in medieval oral traditions as the then common names of these plants. These religious names were written down by botanists in their field notes for each area studied, that other botanists would have the names by which to inquire of residents as to their location in future trips to the areas to collect herbarium specimens, etc. The botanical names, then not yet standardized, are listed as given by Bauhin as of the 16th century. These and numerous other religiously named plants - from folklore as well as botanical sources - are listed, together with their now standardized botanical names, in contemporary works such as Marzell's Deutsches Worterbuch der Pflanzennamen and Rolland's Flore Populaire; but the significance of Bauhin' book remains its definiive documentation, with extensive quotes from his references, of the medieval origins and widepread occurance of religious plant names and symbolism. Botanical Name Common Name Latin Religious Name English Translation Absinthis Absinth Sanctonicum Absinthium Holy Absinth Absinthisi albis flor. S. Mariae fumus Mary's Smoke Ageratum Ageratum S. Mariae herba Mary's Flower Angelica Angelica Sancti Spiritus Radix Holy Spirit Root Barbaria Barbaria Sancta herba Holy Herb Berberis Barberry Sancta spina Holy Thorn Cardiaca S. Mariae manus Mary's Hand Cardus Marianus Mary's Thistle S. Mariae lac Mary's Milk Cardus Marianus Plumeles Thistl.S. Mariae tribulus Mary's (?) Carduua Benedictus Blessed Thistle Sanctus Carduus Blessed Thistle Carduus Marianus Plumeles Thistl.S. Mariae cardus Mary' Thistle Carduus marianus Mary's Thistle SanctaeCrucis tribulus Holy Cross Cariophyl lata S. Mariae claues Mary's Shoes Chamaemelum aureum S. Mariae herba Mary's Flower Colocasia S. Virginis chlamys Virgin's Cape Damascenicum nothum S. Mariae calceolus Mary's Shoe Digitalis Foxglove S. Mariae chirotchae Mary's Gloves Galium Yellow Bedstraw S. Mariae stramen Mary's Bedstraw Gallitrichu fatiuum S. Mariae herba Mary's Flower Glycypicros S. Mariae sigillum Mary's Image Guaiacu Sanctum Lignum Holy Wood Guaiacu Lignum-vitae Sancta palma Holy Palm Guaicu Lignum-vitae Sancta arbor Holy Tree Hypericon St. Johswort S. Mariae stramen lecti Mary's Bedstraw Iara multicolor Sanctae Trinitatis herba Holy Triniy Herb Lachryma Jobi Job's Tears S. Mariae lachryma Mary's Tears Lignum Aloes Aloe Wood S. Crucis lignum Wood of the Cross Linaria Toadflax S. Mariae linum Mary's Flax Linaria Toadflax S. Virginis linum Virgin's Flax Lotus Vrbana MatthioliBirdsfoot tref. S. Mariae calceoli Mary's Shoes Macer Sancta arbor Holy Tree Matricaria Matricary S. Mariae herba Mary's Flower Medica Alfalfa Sanctum Foenum Holy Hay Melilotus Clover S. Mariae calceoli Mary's Shoes Mentha Sarracenica Mint S. Mariae herba Mary's Herb Mentha Sarracenica Mint S. Mariae mentha Mary's Mint Mentha spicata Spearmint S. Mariae herba Mary's Herb Metha sarracenica Mint S. Virginis mentha Virgin's Mint Millefoliu Alpinu Ioan S. Mariae fumus Mary's Smoke Narcissus flore pureo Narcissus S. Mariae lilia Mary's Lily Narcissus medio... Narcissus S. Virginis lilia Virgin's Lily Nardus Celtica S. Mariae flores Mary's Flower Nicocians Nicotine S. Crusis herba Herb of the Cross Nicotiana Nicotine Sancta herba Holy Herb Parietaria Herbe S. Mariae Mary's Flower Perasites S. Virginis chlamys Virgin's Cape Persicaria aris S. Mariae Herba Mary's Flower Persicaria S. Mariae Herbam Mary'a Flower Planta...Alchimilla Ladys Mantle S. Mariae pallium Mary's Mantle Polygonatum Solomon's Seal S. Mariae sigillum Mary's Image Pulmonaria Lungwort S. Maraie lac Mary's Milk Pyra S. Mariae pyra Mary's Pire Quercus Oak S. Crucis lignum Wood of the Cross Rosa hierichuntera Rose S. Mariae Rosa Mary's Rose Rosmarinus Rosemary S. Mariae arbor Mary's Tree Satyrium maculatum S. Mariae lachryma Mary's Tears Seme lum bricorum Sanctum semen Holy Shoot Senetio Ragwort S. Mariae stramen lecti Mary's Bedstraw Serpillium S. Mariae stramen lecti Mary's Bedstraw Sorbus alpina Service Tree S. Mariae pyra parua Mary' Little Pire Testiculus vupinus S. Mariae lachryma Mary's Tears Villeum S. Crucis lignum Wood of the Cross Vitus nigra Matthioli Stock S. Mariae sigillum Mary's Image o O o In addition to the above, Bauhin lists plants associated by name with Saints Anthony, Barbara, Benedict, Catherine, Christopher, Clare, Francis, George, Helena, John The Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Martha, Martin, Nicolas, Paul, Philip, Peter, Simon, Stephen, Thomas, Valentine - the associations evidently being of plants in bloom at the times of the respective feastdays in the Church's liturgical calendar of saints especially venerated in the various areas.