“Those deep unwrought marks, The villager will tell thee, Are the flower’s portion from the atoning blood On Calvary shed. Beneath the Cross it grew.” In Palestine there exists a notion that the red Anemone grew at the foot of the Cross, and hence the flower bears the name of the “Blood-drops of Christ.” The Wood Sorrel is introduced in their paintings of the Crucifixion by the early Italian painters, perhaps as symbolizing the Trinity with its triple leaf. Whilst wearily bearing His Cross on the way to Calvary, our Lord passed by the door of St. Veronica, who, with womanly compassion, wiped with her kerchief the drops of agony from His brow. The Redeemer’s features remained miraculously impressed on the linen, and from that time the flowers of the wayside Speedwell have ever borne a representation of the precious relic. In Brittany it is said that whilst Christ was bearing His Cross a little robin took from His mocking crown one of the thorns, steeped in His blood, which dyed the robin’s breast; henceforth the robin has always been the friend of man. “Bearing His cross, while Christ passed forth forlorn, His God-like forehead by the mock crown torn, A little bird took from that crown one thorn, To soothe the dear Redeemer’s throbbing head, That bird did what she could; His blood, ’tis said, Down dropping, dyed her bosom red.”--_J. H. Abrahall._ The early Spanish settlers of South America saw in the _Flor de las cinco llagas_, the Flower of the Five Wounds, or Passion Flower, a marvellous floral emblem of the mysteries of Christ’s Passion, and the Jesuits eagerly adopted it as likely to prove useful in winning souls to their faith. An old legend, probably of monkish origin, recounts the emotions of plants on the death of the Saviour of mankind. The Pine of Damascus said:--As a sign of mourning, from this day my foliage will remain sombre, and I will dwell in solitary places. The Willow of Babylon.--My branches shall henceforth incline towards the waters of the Euphrates, and there shed the tears of the East. The Vine of Sorrento.--My grapes shall be black, and the wine that shall flow from my side shall be called _Lacryma Christi_. The Cypress of Carmel.--I will be the guest of the tombs, and the testimony of grief. The Yew.--I will be the guardian of graveyards. No bee shall pillage with impunity my poisoned flowers. No bird shall rest on my branches; for my exhalations shall give forth death. The Iris of Susa.--Henceforth I will wear perpetual mourning, in covering with a violet veil my golden chalice. The Day Lily.--I will shut every evening my sweet-smelling corolla, and will only re-open it in the morning with the tears of the night.