mistle toe

[Sonic Seamus]

Early reports to Rome suggested the Druids revered mistle toe and gathered it on certain occasions (was this Pliny's suggestion?).

I've seen some notions (i.e Peter Ellis ) that mistle toe isnt a native plant to the isles and didnt come along until after the invasion of the romans/christians.

Words of wisdom?

[Ron]

"the Isles"?? Ceasar's "druids" were primarily in Gaul... continental. Thus, there were no isles there! lol....

[Dave the Druid]

Spot on rhys! you get :fpraise:

Jules was on about Gaul more so than Albion. He had other problems there like keeping the tribes down.

[Ron]

Spot on rhys! you get :fpraise:

Jules was on about Gaul more so than Albion. He had other problems there like keeping the tribes down.
Wow. The day I got your approval was to be the day i would eat my hat. I have to go eat it now.

:abadpoker

[Ladyvi]

lolol. mistletoe is a parasite plant. it attaches to a tree and grows off of that tree. its very well possible that a seed could have been carried by a bird after eating its berries. or some body carried it there. or it somehow attached to something to get it from place to place. mistletoe has been known to kill a tree.

[Nantonos]

European mistletoe (Viscum album) is native to temperate Europe including the British isles.
http://www.biopix.dk/PhotosSmall/JCS_Viscum%20album%2015367.jpg
See
http://www.wrc.net/phyto/Viscum.html
http://momo.essortment.com/mistletoehistor_rljx.htm

The type of mistletoe that grows on deciduous trees in North America is a different species, Phoradendron flavescens.

[flikyflikerson]

"the Isles"?? Ceasar's "druids" were primarily in Gaul... continental. Thus, there were no isles there! lol....

Primarily in Gaul, yes. But the Romans invaded Britain too. ?

[Nantonos]

Primarily in Gaul, yes. But the Romans invaded Britain too. ?

Yes, they did. And Caesar says that the Gaulish Druids were trained in Britain.

[MoonDragn]

ever get the feeling the ancients made almost every poisonous plant sacred? I wonder if it is so people do eat the holy plants and die? LOL

[Ron]

ever get the feeling the ancients made almost every poisonous plant sacred? I wonder if it is so people do eat the holy plants and die? LOL
LOL. Maybe they made the connection that posion == power == holy ? lol

[Dave the Druid]

Nice photo Nantonos,

I vaugely remeber that bit about being trained in Britian but forgot the source. Is it the Gailic wars?

Poisons, in smal doses don't always kill. Maybe someone tried it once lived to tell about it; "I just came back from being nearly dead!" And let's face it being able to control death was a big deal, still is ( I shan't try). Use this for magic and you've got something, also add in the idea that only certain people are allowed to use it.

Rhys, why is my approval so important? We may have disagreed but I have not witheld approval.

[Nantonos]

Nice photo Nantonos,

I vaugely remeber that bit about being trained in Britian but forgot the source. Is it the Gailic wars?.


Yes, Gallic Wars 6.13

These assemble at a fixed period of the year in a consecrated place in the territories of the Carnutes, which is reckoned the central region of the whole of Gaul. Hither all, who have disputes, assemble from every part, and submit to their decrees and determinations. This institution is supposed to have been devised in Britain, and to have been brought over from it into Gaul; and now those who desire to gain a more accurate knowledge of that system generally proceed thither for the purpose of studying it.

10 hi certo anni tempore in finibus Carnutum, quae regio totius Galliae media habetur, considunt in loco consecrato. Huc omnes undique, qui controversias habent, conveniunt eorumque decretis iudiciisque parent. 11 Disciplina in Britannia reperta atque inde in Galliam translata esse existimatur, 12 et nunc, qui diligentius eam rem cognoscere volunt, plerumque illo discendi causa proficiscuntur.

[Grey]

Rhys, why is my approval so important? We may have disagreed but I have not witheld approval.

Because... to take a stab, your a greymuzzle around here. Rhys's veiws and information has not always been held by the generally population, yourself included. I myself was a bit suprised, though pleased, to see the comment.

[Ron]

Because... to take a stab, your a greymuzzle around here. Rhys's veiws and information has not always been held by the generally population, yourself included. I myself was a bit suprised, though pleased, to see the comment.
It's less that than it is the amount of respect that I have for you, Dave. Having your accord, is like having the Queen of England knighting me - no - Lording me.

[Nantonos]

It's less that than it is the amount of respect that I have for you, Dave. Having your accord, is like having the Queen of England knighting me - no - Lording me.

There hasn't been a Queen of England since Elizabeth 1st.

[blackroseivy]

Hmmmmmmmmmm, I seem to recall a second one being around someplace...?

[odubhain]

Hmmmmmmmmmm, I seem to recall a second one being around someplace...?

That's positively Victorian. :-)

Searles

[Seren_]

Hmmmmmmmmmm, I seem to recall a second one being around someplace...?

She's not Queen of England though. She's Queen of the United Kingdom (and other Commonwealth countries blah blah blah).

[Nantonos]

She's not Queen of England though. She's Queen of the United Kingdom (and other Commonwealth countries blah blah blah).

.. and should therefore have been called Queen Elizabeth the First of the United Kingdom and bla bla bla, the same as James 6th of Scotland became James 1st, not James 6th, of Great Britain. Or, in other words, England != Britain.

Ok, we now return you to your regular programming. Mistletoe. um.... time to introduce Glauberg and La Tène vegetative motifs, perhaps?

[Gabriel93]

ever get the feeling the ancients made almost every poisonous plant sacred? I wonder if it is so people do eat the holy plants and die? LOL

I think it is more because the holy men consumed just enough of the poisonous plant to get high......er...alter their consciousness. :D

[Dave the Druid]

I do belive somebody called me a greymuzzle!

rhys, don't go for peer status here they aren't hereditary any more. Get knighted it's easier and cheaper. Bess, Mary ...I don't have my king list handy......hmm

Nantonos, thanks for including the Latin! I do find it interesting that you included the Brehon law giving event. The reference back to Britian is good, for the purpose of connecting it with the mistletoe which is the discussion at hand here.

[Ron]

There hasn't been a Queen of England since Elizabeth 1st.
Ennnnnnnnn... Nah. The United Crown has never been in support of Scottish nationalism nor Welsh nationalism, until very recently. True Welsh & Scottish patriots call the Commonwealth Crown: "the Crown of England".

References:
» Steeleye Span - Rogues in a Nation.
» Cymdeithas Gymraeg Ottawa.

[forestrangergrrl]

i believe i read an article recently that said that mistle toe isn't actually poisonous. at least not to the extent of doing harm to humans. i'll have to go back and see if i can find it to give you the particulars. i think it referred to both the north american and european varieties.

[Myrddyn Emrys]

Mistletoe berries are almost chemically identical in their active compounds to modern chemotherapy drugs, without the nasty side effects. They're doing extensive research in europe on this.

[blackroseivy]

Now that's interesting.

[Phaedra B]

i believe i read an article recently that said that mistle toe isn't actually poisonous. at least not to the extent of doing harm to humans. i'll have to go back and see if i can find it to give you the particulars. i think it referred to both the north american and european varieties. There are a variety of plants in the mistletoe family. European and North American mistletoes are of different species.

The only mistletoe found in Britain is a subspecies of a common European variety, Viscum album. It is this plant that is used in teas. It is this plant that is being researched for cancer treatment.

There are quite a few species of North American mistletoe. "Christmas" mistletoe is likely to be Phoradendron serotinum or Phoradendron flavenscens. It is toxic! Now, an adult might have to ingest quite a few berries or leaves to do themselves in, but a small child would have much less trouble. When you start concentrating it in tinctures or teas, you're talking a whole lot more toxicity.

A very good mistletoe site is http://www.mistletoe.org.uk/