By Liliana Usvat
Blog 237-365
Cytisus scoparius, the common broom or Scotch broom, syn. Sarothamnus scoparius, is a perennial leguminous shrub native to western and central Europe
Also known as Scotch Broom or Irish Broom. It can be substituted for furze (gorse) at the Spring Equinox. The Irish called it the "Physician's power" because of its diuretic shoots. Sweep your outside ritual areas with it to purify and protect. Burning the blooms and shoots calms the wind.
Good for Reforestation
Be cautious if you plant Broom however, it will quickly multiply.
Broom is a member of the “Leguminosae” family, which includes beans, peas, clover, vetch, locust, lupine, acacia and alfalfa. Broom plants convert nitrogen from air that is used for growth, making them hardy and able to invade and flourish in harsh areas.
The broom is such a versatile plant that it has many uses. It is commonly planted on the sides of steep banks were its roots serve to hold the earth together. On some parts of the coast it is one of the first plants to grow on sand dunes, together with the stems of mat grasses and other sand-binding plants.
Broom will flourish within reach of sea spray, and like gorse, is a good sheltering plant for seaside growth. Inland it is grown extensively as shelter for game, and is one of the more important species of shrubs used to protect them and other small animals from the wind and weather.
Other Uses
The bark of the Broom yields excellent fiber, which is finer than but not so strong as the Spanish Broom. The bark is easily separated from the stem by simply macerating them in water. This has been done since ancient times, and from its fibers paper and cloth was manufactured. The fibres were also used to make quill-pens as used by old scribes.
The bark contains a considerable amount of tannin, which can be used for tanning leather. The leaves and young tip’s of the Broom produce a green dye that was once used to colour clothes and garments.
Celtic folklore and mythology
The Reed or Broom has always been associated with music, for since time began pipes and flutes were made from reeds.
Trees are living things, filled with the essence and energy and of the Elementals and Mother Earth with an aura of power which is visible to those who are in total balance and harmony. The lore which surrounds a particular tree or wood often reflects the power the old ones sensed and drew from their presence.
To the Celts and many other peoples of the old world, certain trees held special significance; many woods provided a powerful spiritual presence. The specific trees varied between different cultures and geographic locations, but those believed to be "sacred" shared certain traits.
Unusual size, beauty, the wide range of materials they provided, unique physical characteristics, or simply the power of the tree's spirit could grant it a central place in the folklore and mythology of a culture. Even our modern culture finds that certain trees capture our imagination.
Throughout history the Broom has featured as a heraldic device, and was adopted at a very early period as the badge of Brittany. Geoffrey the 5th count of Anjou thrust it into his helmet at the moment of going into battle so that his troops might see and follow him. As he plucked it from a steep bank which its roots had knitted together, he is reputed to have said: “This golden plant rooted firmly amid rock, yet upholding what is ready to fall, shall be my cognizance. I will maintain it on the field, in the tourney and in the court of justice”
Blog 237-365
Cytisus scoparius, the common broom or Scotch broom, syn. Sarothamnus scoparius, is a perennial leguminous shrub native to western and central Europe
Also known as Scotch Broom or Irish Broom. It can be substituted for furze (gorse) at the Spring Equinox. The Irish called it the "Physician's power" because of its diuretic shoots. Sweep your outside ritual areas with it to purify and protect. Burning the blooms and shoots calms the wind.
Good for Reforestation
Be cautious if you plant Broom however, it will quickly multiply.
Broom is a member of the “Leguminosae” family, which includes beans, peas, clover, vetch, locust, lupine, acacia and alfalfa. Broom plants convert nitrogen from air that is used for growth, making them hardy and able to invade and flourish in harsh areas.
The broom is such a versatile plant that it has many uses. It is commonly planted on the sides of steep banks were its roots serve to hold the earth together. On some parts of the coast it is one of the first plants to grow on sand dunes, together with the stems of mat grasses and other sand-binding plants.
Broom will flourish within reach of sea spray, and like gorse, is a good sheltering plant for seaside growth. Inland it is grown extensively as shelter for game, and is one of the more important species of shrubs used to protect them and other small animals from the wind and weather.
Other Uses
The bark of the Broom yields excellent fiber, which is finer than but not so strong as the Spanish Broom. The bark is easily separated from the stem by simply macerating them in water. This has been done since ancient times, and from its fibers paper and cloth was manufactured. The fibres were also used to make quill-pens as used by old scribes.
The bark contains a considerable amount of tannin, which can be used for tanning leather. The leaves and young tip’s of the Broom produce a green dye that was once used to colour clothes and garments.
Celtic folklore and mythology
The Reed or Broom has always been associated with music, for since time began pipes and flutes were made from reeds.
Trees are living things, filled with the essence and energy and of the Elementals and Mother Earth with an aura of power which is visible to those who are in total balance and harmony. The lore which surrounds a particular tree or wood often reflects the power the old ones sensed and drew from their presence.
To the Celts and many other peoples of the old world, certain trees held special significance; many woods provided a powerful spiritual presence. The specific trees varied between different cultures and geographic locations, but those believed to be "sacred" shared certain traits.
Unusual size, beauty, the wide range of materials they provided, unique physical characteristics, or simply the power of the tree's spirit could grant it a central place in the folklore and mythology of a culture. Even our modern culture finds that certain trees capture our imagination.
The Reed or Broom was revered by the ancient Druids, and
is one of the sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft.
According to the Celtic
Tree calendar, the Reed dates from the 28th
October to the 24th November, which includes the Celtic New Year of
31st October (better known today as Samhain or Halloween).
In folklore, Reeds or Brooms symbolize purification, protection and fertility; they also
represent established power, for wands, rods and scepters made from their wood
were often carried as symbols of authority.
In
mythology we see a connection to reeds through the panpipes of the Greek god Pan
(Roman god Faunus). In legend Pan
had a contest with Apollo to determine who could play the most skillful and
sweetest music, Pan on his reed pipes or Apollo on his lyre. Pan was judged to be the winner, which Apollo considered an
insult. In rage Apollo turned Pan
into half a man and half a goat. In
art, Pan is often depicted with the legs, horns and beard of goat.
To the
Greeks Pan was a god of the woodlands, pastures, herds and fertility.
Hills, caves, oaks, reeds and tortoises are all sacred to him.
In another legend Pan fought with the gods of Olympus during their battle
against the Titans, as the battle raged he fashioned a giant seashell into a
trumpet and raised such a noise with it, the Titans thought they were being
attacked by a sea monster and fled in terror.
The word “panic” is said to have come from this myth.
In
folklore the Pied Piper of Hamelin played a magickal tune on a pipe made from
reeds, and rid the town of a plague of rats.
As the story goes, in 1284 the Pied Piper was hired to rid the town of
Hamelin of a plague of rats. He
walked through the streets playing a magickal tune on his pipe, and on hearing
the music all the rats followed him.
The
piper led the rats all the way to the banks of the river Weser, where all the
rats fell in and were drowned. Although
the town council had agreed to pay the piper, they changed their minds once the
task was done and refused to pay him.
In
retaliation the piper walked the streets again, only this time he played a
different tune on his pipe. On
hearing the music all the children in the town follow him as he led them out of
town and into the foothills of the mountains.
As they approached a door in the side of the mountain opened and the
piper and all the children vanished never to be seen again.
After their disappearance the spirits of the piper and children forever
haunted the town of Hamelin. From
this story the magickal qualities of the reed and music can be discerned.
Throughout history the Broom has featured as a heraldic device, and was adopted at a very early period as the badge of Brittany. Geoffrey the 5th count of Anjou thrust it into his helmet at the moment of going into battle so that his troops might see and follow him. As he plucked it from a steep bank which its roots had knitted together, he is reputed to have said: “This golden plant rooted firmly amid rock, yet upholding what is ready to fall, shall be my cognizance. I will maintain it on the field, in the tourney and in the court of justice”
The broom is depicted on the Great Seal of Richard I, this being its
first official heraldic appearance in England.
Another
origin is claimed for the heraldic use of the broom in Brittany, in that a
prince of Anjou assassinated his brother and seized his kingdom.
Overcome by remorse he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in expiation of
his crime. Every night on the
journey he scourged himself with a brush of “genets” or “genista”, and
adopted the plant as his badge in perpetual memory of his repentance.
St.
Louis of France continued the heraldic use of the broom as a symbol of chivalry
and honour, and on the occasion of his marriage in the year 1234 he founded a
special order called the “Colle de Genet”. The collar of the order was decorated alternately of the
fleur-de-lis of France and a broom-flower.
His bodyguard of a hundred nobles also wore on their coats a broom-flower
emblem with the motto “Exaltat humiles” (“He exalteth the
lowly”). The order was held in
high esteem, and to be bestowed with it was regarded as a great honour. King Richard II was honoured with it, and a broom plant with
open empty pods can be seen ornamentally decorating his tomb in Westminster
Abbey.
In 1368 Charles V of France
bestowed the insignia of the broom pod on his favourite chamberlain, and in 1389
Charles VI gave the same decoration to his kinsmen.
In
Scotland the broom is the badge of the Forbes clan, and according to Scottish
lore: “it was the bonny broom
which the Scottish clan of Forbes wore in their bonnets when they wished to
arouse the heroism of their chieftains”.
In the Gaelic dialect of the highlands they called the broom “bealadh”
in token of its beauty: “This
humble shrub was not less distinguished than the Rose herself during the civil
wars of the fourteenth century”.
Apart
from its use in heraldry, the Broom has been associated with several popular
traditions. In some parts it used
to be considered a sign of plenty and fertility, for it bore many flowers and
flourished quickly.
Magical Uses
The flowering
tops were used for house decoration at the Whitsuntide festival, but it was
considered unlucky to use them for menial purposes when in full bloom
Ritual
wands made from Broom are used in purification and protection spells, and if
working outdoors (the best place to perform magic) sweeping the ground with a
brush of Broom (if it grows nearby) will clear the area of unwanted influences.
To raise the winds, throw some Broom into the air while invoking the
spirits of the Air, and to calm the winds burn some Broom and bury the ashes.
Of old,
Broom was hung up in the house to keep all evil influences out, and an infusion
of Broom sprinkled throughout the house was used to exorcise poltergeist
activity.
An infusion of Broom was
also drunk to increase psychic powers and awareness through its intoxication
properties, but this is no longer recommended as the plant can also be
poisonous.
The
Broom is known by many folk names: Banal,
Basam, Besom, Bisom, Bizzon, Breeam, Broom Tops, Brum, Genista, Green Broom,
Irish Broom, Link, Scotch Broom and Hog Weed.
Its gender is Masculine. Its
planet association is with Mars. Its
element association is Air.
Its
deity associations are with: Pan,
Hermes, Apollo and Dionysus/Bacchus. It
is used to attract the powers needed for: Purification,
Protection, Fertility, Wind, Divination and all spells associated the element
Air.
Medicinal Uses
The Broom is also the only native medicinal plant used as an official
drug. The Latinized name “Scoparius”
is derived from the Latin “scopa”, meaning “besom” (hence the
common folk name broom), and “Cytisus“ is said to be a corruption of
the name of the Greek island Cythnus, where the Broom once grew in abundance.
The
properties of Broom as a healing herb was well known to the ancients, and such
early writers as Virgil (70-19 BC) and Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) speak of the
“Genista” species of Broom. It
was also mentioned in some of the earliest printed Herbals, such like:
the Passau (1485), the Hortus Sanitatis (1491) and the Grete Herball
(1516).
John Gerard in his Herbal
of 1597 tells us: “The decoction of the twigs and tops of broom doth cleanse
and open the liver, milt and kidnies”.
The
Broom is also mentioned in the first London Pharmacopoeia of 1618, from which Nicholas
Culpepper (1616-1654)
made an unauthorized translation published
in 1649 was called “A Physicall Directory”. Later in his celebrated Herbal “The English Physician” (1652), Culpepper
considered a decoction of Broom to be good not only for dropsy, but also for
black jaundice, ague, gout, sciatica and various pains of the hips and joints.
The
flowers of broom were used for making an unguent to cure the gout.
Henry VIII used to drink a water infusion made from the flowers of Broom,
and being purgative he believed it acted as a guard against his overindulgences.
A decoction of Broom is recommended in herbal medicine for bladder and
kidney afflictions, as well as for chronic dropsy.
Bruised seeds after being infused in rectified spirit was allowed to
stand for two weeks and strained, then taken daily in a glass of peppermint
water to cure liver complaints and ague. The
seeds were also used as a substitute for coffee.
Broom
juice in large doses can disturb the stomach and bowels, and is therefore more
often used as an auxiliary to other diuretics, rather than used alone.
Called (Infusum Scoparii) it is made by infusing the dried tops of
Broom in boiling water for fifteen minutes and then straining.
It was introduced into the British Pharmacopoeia of 1898 and replaced the
decoctions of broom in the preceding issues.
Description
The
flowers of the Broom are fragrant and about ¾ inch long, ranging in color from
light yellow to orange with crimson wings.
The shape of the flower is irregular with a top banner petal, two side
wing petals, and two keel petals on the bottom likened to a butterfly.
The flowers are in bloom from April to July and occur on plants as young
as 2 years old, growing more abundantly on plants of 4 years old or more.
Bees are attracted to the flowers, not in search of honey but more because
they contain an abundance of pollen.
The
flowers are followed by flat oblong seedpods about 1½ - 2 inches long, these
are hairy on the edges but smooth on the sides.
The pods are dark green or nearly black when mature and each contains
several seeds. The seeds are oval
about ⅛ inch long, dark greenish-brown and have a shiny surface.
The pods begin to dry out as the seeds inside mature and warp in
different directions, eventually they are forced open and the seeds burst out
with a sharp report landing some 4 to 12 feet away. The
continuous popping of the bursting seed-vessels can readily be heard on a hot
sunny day.
The seeds have a hard shell and can remain viable in the soil
for more than 50 years before they germinate.
This long-term viability enables the Reed to re-populate areas even after
they have been cleared and even when no plants are visible on the site.
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