While we were walking around the castle grounds (that would
be Castle Newman in Bellville), we chanced upon a shrub with the prettiest,
almost translucent, red berries. I
thought “holly” but the leaves didn’t
seem right; “pyracantha”??. No, no thorns and the berries looked too red
and fresh. Hmmmmm. Back to holly.
I’m pretty sure it was Yaupon Holly. It’s an evergreen shrub or small tree native
to the southeast US. In the spring it
produces small white flowers and then, red berries through the fall. Yaupon Holly grows best in maritime forests,
salt marshes, and the woods and swamps of the coastal plains (which includes
Bellville). The berries attract and
provide food for birds and other wildlife, including white-tailed deer. Each berry contains 4 hard, oblong seeds (well, shuckie darn! I should have picked a
couple). It grows in full sun to
partial shade and once established, it’s a drought-tolerant plant. For those interested in planting natives - this is a good one.
Now, if you are lost in the wilderness and come across the
Yaupon Holly, you can make a tea with the leaves. (After
performing the Universal Edibility Test, of course – need to make sure you’ve
got the right plant.) The leaves
contain more caffeine by weight than either coffee beans or green tea. In fact, it has the highest caffeine content
of any plant native to North America. It’s
also high in antioxidants and less bitter than green tea. In the way-back-times,
made as a very strong brew, it was used to induce vomiting and for purification. And, during the Civil War, southerners
substituted Yaupon Holly tea for coffee and black tea.
During the drive home, we passed a number of trees bereft of
leaves but sporting clumps of dark green Mistletoe. I always think I just might be able to reach
a clump, forgetting of course, the ground is several feet lower than the
highway. Even standing on the roof of
the car I couldn’t reach it. Grrrrrrr.
Mistletoe is a partial parasite (a
"hemiparasite"). As a parasitic plant, it grows on the branches or
trunk of a tree and actually sends out roots that penetrate into the tree and
take up water and nutrients. But it can grow on its own producing, like other
plants, food by photosynthesis. Now, there
are two types of mistletoe - Phoradendron flavescens (native to North America)
and Viscum album, (of European origin).
The North American Mistletoe produces small white flowers which
mature into the traditional berries you think of when you think of mistletoe. However berries of the North American
mistletoe can be red, orange, yellow and white. Birds love them. And while they’re not considered highly
poisonous, it’s best to not eat any.
Mistletoe was a plant held sacred by the Druids. It was considered to bestow life and
fertility; as protection against poison; and an aphrodisiac. Branches of mistletoe were hung from ceilings
to ward off evil spirits. In Europe they
were placed over house and stable doors to prevent the entrance of witches. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a
plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses
kiss and make-up.
Frigga and the Mistletoe
A Norse Myth
Frigga (also known as Freya) was the goddess of beauty,
love, and marriage. Wife of the powerful Norse god Odin, Frigga was a sky
goddess, responsible for weaving the clouds, and therefore responsible for rain
and for thunderstorms.
Sitting at her spinning wheel weaving the fates, she was
also a goddess of divination and credited with the creation of runes...more
precisely she was a 'seer', one who knew the future but could never change it
or reveal it to others.
Frigga was the mother of Baldur, the best loved of all the
Norse gods. And she foresaw his death. Knowing that there was nothing she could
do to avert his fate; the hapless goddess extracted a promise from all things
that they would play no part in his death. Unfortunately, thinking the poisonous
plant was too insignificant to bother with, she neglected to secure its pledge.
And when the malevolent prankster Loki discovered her
oversight, he crafted a dart made from the mistletoe. Devious and evil, he
brought it to Baldur's brother who was blind, suggesting a game of darts and
agreeing to guide his hand. And this he did, directing the dart directly at
Baldur's heart, killing him.
The mistletoe's white berries were formed from Frigga's
tears of mourning. As the berries fell upon
his chest, Baldur was restored to life, and the goddess Frigga was so grateful
that she reversed the reputation of the baleful plant, making it a symbol of
peace and love and promising a kiss to all who passed under it.
Take care
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