Motif-Index of Folk-Literature/Volume 1/A/2600

by Stith Thompson

A2600—A2699. Origin of trees and plants.

A2600—A2649. VARIOUS ORIGINS OF PLANTS

A2600. Origin of plants. Dh I 170f. — **Wünsche Die Pflanzenfabel in der Weltliteratur (Leipzig 1905). — Persian: Carnoy 281; Hawaiian: Dixon 38; Maori: Clark 15.

A2601. Origin of plants: creator sends down the insects, who plant them. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2602. Planting the earth. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2610. Creation of plants by transformation.

D210. Transformation: man to vegetable form.

A2611. Plants from body of slain person or animal. Dh I 79. — India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 23, 129; S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 128, (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473.

E631. Reincarnation in plant (tree) growing from grave.

A2611.0.1. Plants from grave of dead person or animal. India: Thompson-Balys; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 67; S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 109, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 38, (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359f., (Cashinawa): Métraux ibid. 686.

A2611.0.2. Plants from foetus or body of stillborn child. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2611.0.3. Human placenta transformed into plant. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2611.0.4. Parts of body of god transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 188.

A2611.0.4.1. Women transformed into flowers. Marquesas: Handy 135.

A2611.0.5. Parts of human or animal body transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 130f. Nos. 85, 89; S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 128.

A2611.1. Corn from body of slain person. (Cf. A2685.1.) — Babylonian: Spence 140; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 293 n. 77; S. Am. Indian (Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 292; Yunca (Peru): ibid. 225, (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 360, (Brazil): Oberg 108; (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473.

A1420.1. Origin of food from body of slain food-goddess.

A2611.2. Tobacco from grave of bad woman. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 128, XXXIII 56 No. 128; Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 76; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 96 No. 125; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3240, Legends Nos. 326—337; S. Am. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 62.

A2611.2.1. Tobacco from grave of virgin. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2611.3. Coconut tree from head of slain monster. Oceanic (Samoa, Union Group, Mangaia, Tahiti): Dixon 55; (Cook Is.): Beckwith Myth 104, (Solomon Is.): ibid. 104, (Papua): Ker 92, (Tuamotu): Beckwith Myth 103.

A2611.4. Pepper plant from body of slain person. (Cf. A2686.3.) — Zuñi: Cushing 183.

A2611.5. Mandrake from blood of person hanged on gallows. (Cf. A2664.) — **Starck Der Alraun; *Taylor JAFL XXXI 561f.; Penzer III 153.; *Fb "alrunerod" IV 10a.

A2611.6. Hair transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2611.6.1. Grass from hair of slain person. India: *Thompson-Balys.

A2683. Origin of grass.

A2611.7. Origin of rue: from drops of Christ's blood. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3218, Legends No. 304.

A2612. Plants from tears.

D1454.4.3. Flowers from tears.

A2612.1. Tears of Adam and Eve leaving paradise become trees. (Cf. A2681.) — Dh I 223ff.

A1331. Paradise lost.

A2612.2. Tears of Mary at Annunciation become daisies. (Cf. A2651.) — Dh II 7.

A2612.3. God's tears become peas. (Cf. A2686.2.) — Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 126.

A2613. Plant from spittle.

A2613.1. Mushroom from spittle of deity. (Cf. A2686.1.) — Dh II 107; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3230, Legends No. 325.

A2615. Object transformed to plant. Jewish: Neuman.

D450. Transformation: object to another object. D462. Transformation of plants to another object.

A2615.1. Mary hides in ground nail to be used for cross: origin of thistles. (Cf. A2688.1.) — Dh II 216.

A2615.2. Plant from mother's milk. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2615.3. Canoe transformed into coconut tree. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 232.

A2615.4. Seaweed becomes vegetation. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 152.

A2616. One plant transformed into another. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 152.

A2617. Plants from transformed person (animal).

A2617.1. Living boys or girls transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2617.2. Living animals transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2620. Plants originate from experience of holy person.

V200. Sacred persons.

A2621. Plants from tread of holy person. Dh II 7. — Japanese: Anesaki 240.

A2621.1. Flowers from under the feet of Virgin Mary. (Cf. A2650.) — *Dh II 258; BP I 100 n. 1.

A2621.2. Plants from tread of goddess. Greek myth: Grote I 5 (Aphrodite).

A2622. Peter lets key of heaven fall: origin of "Heaven Key" (primrose). Peter hears that duplicate key to heaven has been made. In his excitement he lets his key drop to earth. It is returned by an angel. Where it dropped are the "Heaven Keys". (Cf. A2653.) — *Dh II 190.

A2623. St. Peter's grass. Created by the saint as medicine for snakebite. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 301.

A2532.1. Why snakes are venomous.

A2624. Origin of plant from staff of holy person.

A2624.1. Origin of thorn tree from staff of Joseph of Arimathea. England: Baughman.

A2625. Plants from clothing of deity. (Cf. A2615.) — Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 282; Tahiti: Henry 338.

A2630. Other types of plant origins.

A2631. Origin of plant as punishment. (Cf. A2230.)

A2631.1. Punishment for first murder: thistles, etc. Until murder was committed, only useful plants grew on earth; since then, thistles. (Cf. A2688.1.) — Dh I 248.

Q211. Murder punished.

A2631.1.1. Punishment for Fall of Man: thistles, etc. Jewish: Neuman.

A2632. Origin of plant as reward.

A2632.1. Willow shelters Holy Family: becomes weeping willow. (Cf. A2681.1.) — Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 132c.

A2632.2. Origin of tree for crucifixion of Christ. Planted by Adam's son on the grave of primeval father. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 66.

A2634. Plants created by direct divine agency. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 550, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 41.

A2650—A2699. ORIGIN OF VARIOUS PLANTS AND TREES

A2650. Origin of flowers. (See A2617.1, A2621.1.) — India: Thompson-Balys.

E631.1.1. Lily from grave. E631.1.2. Rose from grave.

A2651. Origin of daisy. (See A2612.2.) — Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 92 No. 253*.

A2653. Origin of primrose. (Cf. A2622.) — Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 250.

A2654. Origin of "Mary's bed straw" (thymus serpyllum). Flemish: DMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 251*.

A2655. Origin of bindweed (convolvulus sepium). Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 252*.

A2656. Origin of rose.

A2656.1. Origin of mossrose. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 92 No. 254*

A2656.2. Origin of York and Lancaster rose. From dust and blood of slain of War of the Roses — a variety of rose unknown before that time. England: Baughman.

A2657. Origin of forget-me-not. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 92 No. 255*.

A2658. Origin of lady-slipper (calceolaria hybrida). Flemish: DeMeyer XXXVII 92 No. 256*.

A2661. Origin of snowdrop (galanthus nivatis). Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 92 No. 257*.

A2662. Origin of hellebore. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 92 No. 259*.

A2663. Origin of clove. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 92 No. 261*.

A2664. Origin of mandrake. (See A2611.5.)

A2665. Origin of wild morning glory. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 282.

A2665.1. Origin of narcissus. Chinese: Eberhard 131 No. 87.

A2666. Origin of rue. (See A2611.0.4.1.)

A2680. Origin of other plant forms.

A2681. Origin of trees. (See A2612.1.) — Finnish: Kalevala rune 2; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325—26; India: Thompson-Balys.

A2681.1. Origin of weeping willow. (See A2632.1.)

A2681.2. Origin of oak. Finnish: Kalevala rune 2.

A2681.3. Poplars from weeping maidens transformed by god. *Frazer Pausanias II 72.

A2681.4. Origin of birch trees.

A2681.4.1. First birch trees in Ireland. Irish myth: Cross.

A2681.5. Origin of palms. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.

A2681.5.1. Origin of coconut tree. (See A2611.3.) — Oceanic (Cove Is.): Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 104, (Tahiti): ibid. 101, (New Guinea): ibid. 102, (Marshall Is.): Davenport 223, (Marquesas): Handy 30.

A2681.6. Origin of bamboo. India: *Thompson-Balys.

A2681.7. Origin of sandalwood tree. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2681.8. Origin of dammar tree. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2681.9. Origin of mulberry tree. Marquesas: Handy 123.

A2681.10. Origin of banyan tree. Marquesas: Handy 123.

A2681.11. Origin of breadfruit tree. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 68, 971, 101.

A2681.12. Origin of palm-wine tree. Africa (Bushonga): Torday 236.

A2681.13. Origin of cedar tree. Jewish: Neuman.

A2682. Origin of creepers. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 128.

A2683. Origin of grass. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2611.6. Hair transformed into plants. A2611.6.1. Grass from hair of slain person.

A2684. Origin of cultivated plants. (Cf. A2685, A2691.2.) — Jibaro: Karsten, cf. JAFL XXXII 446; Tonga: Gifford 17f.; Japanese: Beckwith Myth 102.

A2684.1. Origin of flax. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 112.

A2684.2. Origin of hemp. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2684.2.1. Origin of sorghum. Africa (Wute): Sieber 204.

A2684.3. Origin of cotton plant. S. Am. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359.

A2685. Origin of cereals.

A1423.2. Acquisition of rice.

A2685.1. Origin of corn. (See A2611.1.) — India: Thompson-Balys.

A2685.1.1. Origin of maize. India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 172, (Tembe): Métraux ibid. 140, (Kaigua, Apapocuva-Guarani): Métraux ibid. 136, (Tenetehara): Wagley-Galvão BBAE CXLIII (3) 148.

A2685.2. Origin of straw. Formerly whole blade became grain. Straw left for dog. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 10 No. 49, XXXIII 53 No. 49; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 143 No. 28; India: Thompson-Balys.

A2685.3. Origin of rye. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 129; India: Thompson-Balys.

A2685.4. Origin of barley. Finnish: Kalevala rune 2; Jewish: Neuman.

A2685.5. Origin of manioc. S. Am. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 360, (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 128.

A2686. Origin of vegetables. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2686.1. Origin of mushroom. (Cf. A2613.1.) — Dh II 107; India: *Thompson-Balys.

A2686.2. Origin of peas. (See A2612.3.) — India: Thompson-Balys.

A2686.3. Origin of pepper plant. (See A2611.4.) — S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 109.

F954.4. Chile plant so hot it causes dumb man to speak: thus discovered for eating.

A2686.3.1. Origin of kava plant. Tonga: Beckwith Myth 101, Gifford 72, 75.

A2686.4. Origin of edible roots. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2686.4.1. Origin of sweet potato. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 242; S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 109.

A2686.4.2. Origin of taro. Mono-Alu: Wheeler 67; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 98.

A2686.4.3. Origin of yams. Tonga: Gifford 17.

A2686.5. Origin of turmeric. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2686.6. Origin of beans. S. Am. Indian (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473.

A2686.7. Origin of gourds. S. Am. Indian (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473.

A2686.8. Origin of cinnamon. Jewish: Neuman.

A2687. Origin of fruits.

A2687.1. Origin of blood-oranges. Sébillot RTP III 25.

A2687.2. Origin of melons. S. Am. Indian (Mataco): MAFLS XL 128.

A2687.3. Origin of berries. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 188, 282.

A2687.4. Origin of pumpkin. S. Am. Indian (Jivaro): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627.

A2687.5. Origin of banana. Tonga: Gifford 17.

A2688. Origin of weeds. India: Thompson-Balys; Tonga: Gifford 22.

A2688.1. Origin of thistles. (See A2615.1, A2631.1.) — Irish myth: Cross; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 130; Jewish: Neuman.

A2688.1.1. Origin of thorn-bush. Fb "torn" III 827a; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.

A2691. Origin of narcotic plants.

A2691.1. Origin of coffee. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 127.

A2691.2. Origin of tobacco. (See A2611.2, A2611.2.1.) — Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 131 No. 88; India: *Thompson-Balys; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 58; S. Am. Indian (Cariri): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 559.

A2691.3. Origin of ganja. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2691.4. Origin of opium. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard 131 No. 88.

A2733. Poppy characteristics from series of reincarnations.

A2691.5. Origin of betel. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2692. Origin of poisonous plants. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 686; Africa (Tonga): Gifford 27.