Magnolia - "Love of Nature." The flower was named after Pierre Magnol, Professor of Medicine at Montpelier, 1638-1715.

Mallow - "Mildness." In Greek the word means "healing."

Mallow (Marsh) - "Beneficence."

Maiden-hair - "Virgin mind." Sometimes the meaning of "secrecy" is given because of the hidden secret of its flowers and seeds, which are wind-scattered here and there.

Mandrake - "Horror." Whole pages might be devoted to the mandrake, which was one of the plants most resorted to by the witches. Many weird superstitions are attached to it, one of the most uncanny being told by Thomas Newton in his Herball to the Bible." "It is supposed to be a creature having life, engendered under the earth from the body of some dead person put to death for murder." Hence the idea that when the mandrake was pulled up it uttered a scream. In "Romeo and Juliet," iv. 3, we find "Shrieks like mandrakes, torn out of the earth."

Maple - "Reserve." Because its flowers are late in opening, and slow to fall.

Marigold "Grief," "despair." It seems that the marigold derives its meaning from its connection with the sun (either because of its disc-like resemblance, or the fact that it turns towards the sun like the heliotrope and the sunflower). Originally the marigold was called "calendula," because it was in flower on the calends (Ist) of nearly each month. Then when the devotion to the Blessed Virgin became widespread, its name was changed to Marygold, and then to marigold, first because of its flowering on Lady Day, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, and, secondly, because the word "gold" was used in reference to its golden, ray-like corolla likened to the rays of light around the Virgin's head.

Marsh Marigold - "Splendour."

May - "Hope." Popular name for the hawthorn.

Meadow Saffron - "My best days are past." Because this flower, which might well be called an autumn crocus, springs up as if to announce the coming of autumn, or to declare the summer days are over.

Meadow-sweet - "Uselessness." Sometimes called "bride-wort," on account of the likeness of its lovely creamy heads of blossoms to the white feathers worn by brides. Also "queen of the meadows."

Michaelmas Daisy - "After-thought."

Mignonette - "Your qualities surpass your charms." The "Reseda Odorata," as the mignonette is botanically known, was introduced into Europe from Egypt about a century ago, and has been a great favourite ever since, owing to its great sweetness and duration of flowering.

Mimosa (sensitive plant) - "Sensitiveness" and "chastity."

Mistletoe - "I surmount difficulties." With reference to the great height at which the mistletoe generally grows, Mythology tells the following story concerning the mistletoe: Loki, the Scandinavian Spirit of Evil, was envious of Baldur, the god of Light and Beauty, the son of Freya. Now, Baldur the Good was beloved of all, and the joy of Asgard, the abode of the gods. All was peace till one day Baldur informed his friends that he had suffered terrible dreams pregnant with waking. Thereupon, his mother at once determined to extract an oath from all created things - earth, air, fire, water, stone, poison, etc. - that they would never injure her son; but she overlooked one thing - a tiny little plant with clear white berries, a harmless, insignificant-looking thing, growing upon an ancient oak on the eastern side of Valhalla. After Freya's spell had been laid upon all creation, the gods often amused themselves with making him a target, and casting at him all manner of weapons in order to see them rebound, leaving him unharmed. Loki, one day, chanced to witness this strange performance, and, disguised as a woman, discovered from Freya the omission of the mistletoe. Instantly Loki hastened away to obtain a sprig, and, returning to the plains of Asgard, placed the mistletoe in the hands of the blind god Hodur, bidding him also cast something at Baldur. Loki then bewitched the plant, so that when it touched the fair-haired god he fell dead. After this tragedy, Freya commanded all mistletoe to grow high up out of reach, so that it might do no further harm.

Moon-daisy - "Innocence."

Moon-wort - "Forgetfulness." From the old belief that people who slept in the moonlight lost their memories.

Morning Glory - "Affectation." This pretty, pale pink flower is an easily trained climber.

Moss Rosebud - "Confession of love."

Mountain Ash (Rowan) - "Prudence." That the rowan-tree is the dread of witches we learn from the lines:

Rowan-tree, and red threed, Put the witches to their speed.

Or in the Highlands:

Roan-tree and red thread Haud the witches a' in dread.

Because of the old superstition that if a witch were touched with a rowan-branch (held by a baptised person) she would be the first victim carried off by the Evil One when he visited that district. Little rowan-twigs used to be carried about as a charm against witchcraft, and rowan-trees grown by the homestead to keep away witches.

Myrrh - "Gladness."

Myrtle - "Love." The shrub dedicated to Venus, the goddess of Love, and frequently included in bridal bouquets.