Why were peonies considered dangerous?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
April 21, 2003
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Peonies (Paeonia officinalis Linnaeus and other species) are plants with bizarre legends. Although John Gerard in 1597 claimed most of the tales were nonsense, he took the time to repeat the stories and even accepted that some were true. Legends from the "Ancients" were accepted without doubt. 'True' peony legends Gerard credited to various Roman writers.
According to Aelianus (late third century CE), some peonies were known in the ancient world as Aglaophotides (brightly shining). "One of the sea...which groweth upon high rocks...opening in the Sommer Solstice doth yield in the night time a certain fierie,
and as it were sparkling brightness or light..." and one "of the earth...lieth hid in the day time among other herbes...and in the night time it is easily seene: for it shineth like a star...."
Another legend, credited to Apuleius (second century Roman) states, "the seedes or graines of Peionie shine in the night time like a candle, and that plenty of it is in the night season found out and gathered by the shepheards."
Gerard wrote that according to Josephus (Flavius Josephus, Jewish historian, first century), the peony plant "is not plucked up without danger, and that it is reported how he that first touched it, not knowing the nature thereof, perished. Therefore a string must be fastned to it in the night, and a hungrie dog tied thereto who being allured by the smell of roasted flesh set towards him, may plucke it up by the rootes."
Later legends—those of the Middle Ages—Gerard did not accept. Peony seeds were believed to confer protection from evil and worn about the neck on a string, but with a proviso. "Moreover...of necessitie...must be gathered in the night; for if any man shall pluck off the fruit in the day time, being seene of the Woodpecker, he is in danger to loose his eies (eyes)..." Men, especially, were warned not to dig a peony for "if he cut the root, it is a chance if his fundament (anus) fall not out." (The Herbal or General Historie of Plants, 1633 edition)
The Peony Database in Switzerland has wonderful photographs of the many European species and hybrids posted by Walter Good. To learn more about peonies and to view his photographs, click on the link:
http://www.paeonia.ch/portrate/ITOHE2.htm
Series: | 1 | | 2 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What does peony have to do with poetry? What's in a Name? - May 2, 2003
How do alligators benefit prairie iris? Renfield's Garden - March 31, 2004
How does this iris walk? Weird Plants - August 23, 2001
Why is this iris called stinking gladwyn? What's in a Name? - October 24, 2003
Why were peonies considered dangerous? Herbal Folklore - April 21, 2003
What is the Apothecary's rose? Herbal Folklore - September 24, 2001
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