The thistle has been long in demand for counteracting the powers of darkness, and in Esthonia it is placed on the ripening corn to drive and scare away malignant demons.

In Poland, the disease known among the poorer classes as "elf-lock" is supposed to be the work of wicked spirits, but tradition says it will gradually disappear if one buries thistle seed.[10] The aloe, by the Egyptians, is reputed to resist any baleful influence, and the lunary or "honesty" is by our own country people said to put every evil influence to flight.

In Germany the juniper disperses evil spirits, and in ancient times the black hellebore, peony, and mugwort were largely used for this purpose.

According to a Russian belief the elder-tree drives away evil spirits, and hence this plant is held in high respect.

Among further plants possessing the same quality are the nettle and milfoil, and then there is the famous St.John's wort, popularly nicknamed "devil's flight." Closely allied with this part of our subject are those plants connected with serpents, here forming a very numerous class.