Costmary: The Bible Leaf

Costmary
Family:  Asteraceae
Genus:   Tanacetum
Species: T. balsamita

Also known as Sweet Mary, the Bible leaf, the Baslam herb, or one of its medieval names, Maudlin.  The name is said to be derived from the costus (Gk. "from the east"), a plant widely known in the ancient world whose root was imported for incense and perfume, and for the Virgin Mary, or possibly Mary Magdalene; many 'sweetly' scented herbs become, with time, associated with Biblical women.   In medieval France, it was outright called Herbe Sainte-Marie.

It is a hearty perennial herb with a wide, oblong leaf with a delightfully minty scent.  It grows to a height of three to four feet, and has August blooms that are comprised of small yellow flowers.  If grown in shade, it will produce a great sheath of leaves, and little by way of flowers.  It will tolerate dry soil well, and thrives in most conditions.

As the plant itself is related to tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), evidence exists that it may very well have been used to repel silverfish other book-bourne bugs from family heirloom Bibles.

M. Grieve, in her Modern Herbal (1931) states that, while the plant was 'native to the Orient' it had now 'become naturalized in parts of southern Europe' and was inevitably to be found in every garden in England.   It was once used as a flavoring for ale, for the scent and the taste of the leaf was similar to that of allspice, and referred to as aletcost.

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Costmary is interesting in the fact that it's long been associated with the Bible, yet never mentioned within it.  Saussurea costus, from which its name is possibly derived, was known in ancient Israel as koshet, and was referred to as one of the ingredients used to create sacred, cleansing incense associated with the Tabernacle.   It's well-known Biblical associations most likely appear during Colonial America, wherein the leaves were both used as placeholders in hymnals and chewed as an invigorating pick-me-up for long sermons.  

I can relate to costmary.  No, really:   I've long considered myself (read:  associated myself as) a Christian – but I rarely attended a church.  Like our Bible leaf, I never really appeared anywhere there'd be any community, but rather would slip between the pages, hoping for goodness-by-association.  

Perhaps I've just been living life as a placeholder would all along.  Certainly gives me pause for thought.


A Pause-for-Thought Potpourri:
(via Old Fashioned Living)
2 parts rose
2 parts lemon balm
2 parts costmary
1 part whole clove