Plant species introduced by foreigners according to folk tradition in Norway and some other European countries: xenophobic tales or not?

摘要: In their quest to understand and interpret nature, people have frequently sought religious or divine origins for plant species characteristics. Less often, historical events persons are involved. This study comprises eleven cases of the latter kind, all claiming that been introduced by foreigners at least from foreign lands. Based on literature data a few recorded during my own ethnobotanical field work, European examples pseudo-historical presented here, including Cakile maritima, Cicuta virosa, Lathyrus japonicus, Leymus arenarius, Primula vulgaris, Scopolia carniolica in Norway, Heracleum mantegazzianum and/or H. persicum Denmark, Phoenix dactylifera P. theophrastii Greece, Jacobaea vulgaris Scotland. The only common trait these stories is foreigner lands claimed as sources species. most cases, “historical” explanations given folk tradition demonstrably odds with reality. those involve poisonous potentially harmful (Cicuta persicum, vulgaris), “useless” theophrastii, its inedible fruits, may be interpreted xenophobic, blaming introducing dangerous worthless remaining merely suggest search exotic seemingly rational, if erroneous, stands considered strange unusual. spreading vectors assumed correct well documented, e.g. ship cargos (including goods packing materials), which responsible ballast plants other anthropochores, wartime activities, broad range (polemochores). They do not, however, apply included this study, either indigenous ornamentals. appearing tales serve mostly suitably what perceived “alien” plants.