Review by Booklist Review
Dividing his captivating book into three sections--herbaceous plants and shrubs, trees, and fungi--Jordan examines 68 species of plants that have, at one time or another, possessed magical or mysterious associations. Each entry includes a brief description of the plant (along with a color photograph), data on where it grows and when it blooms, and the classical myths and legends associated with it through the ages. Chicory has the power to render a person invisible; iris was considered good for everything from snake bites to coughs and bruises; picking parsley while uttering an oath against a person would have him or her dead within a week; and vervain was thought to possess aphrodisiac properties--to name just a few of the common beliefs. Who could not delight in all this madness! --George Cohen
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
