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The Tree Alphabet for schools

This section is designed to supplement an understanding of woodland through the extensive botanical lore and mythology of the Celtic tradition.

A quick Tree Index for schools

This quick index highlights a few possible keywords. It is not exhaustive and is intended simply to suggest points at which to begin!

Tree

Botanical lore Mythology
Beithe/birch lightness, whiteness, pioneer, betulin, fungi, durable bark, birch tar, sap, clean blood more... Cernunnos, wildman of woods, maypole, shamans, bark hats, changelings, birch brooms more...
Luis/rowan rose, frost-resistant, berries, breaking up soil, vitamin C, coughs more... protection, earth and heaven, runes, life rod, otherworld more...
Nuin/ash beneficial, ventilator, healer, disinfectant, boats, guardian more... Imbolc, Candlemas, Brigit, Uffington, Odin, spears, cloud-maker more...
Fearn/alder rivers, wet ground, oxygen, nitrogen, drains, blood, crannogs, piles, sticky, cones, more... Bran, raven, protection for britain, Niamh, Rough Else, blood, wooden goddess, more...
Seile/willow leaning, waterproof, storms, regenerate, pollarding, salicin, aspirin, more... moon owns it, Helice, sacred to poets, witches, wryneck, more...
Huath/hawthorn hedgerows, carving, windbreak, insects, haws, heart more... Beltane, Olwen, protective, springs, Maia, Sleeping Beauty, Culhwych, Thomas the Rhymer more...
Duir/oak long life, strength, insects, lightning, thunder, electrical currents, more... doorman, druid, summer solstice, Janus, oracle, Dodona, more...
Tinne/holly shade, evergreen with leaves, strong high quality wood, fevers and colds, more... christian symbolism, Tannus, Gawain and Green Knight, waxing and waning, bull with club foot, more...
Muin/vine/bramble rose-like, arching canes, lateral shoots, larvae, basketry, binding, protection, leap-frog, more... Osiris, exhiliration, taboo, Michaelmas, more...
Coll/hazel Stone Age food, always young, divination, heart problems, skin irritations, more... magic nut, Connla's Well, nine, Bush Barrow lozenge, caduceus, salmon of wisdom, Taliesin  more...
Gort/ivy blocking light, decoctions, sinusitis, spleen , more... wild, toxic, pubs, resurrection, ivy girl, more...
Peith/guelder rose water-elder, sterile flowers, translucent, cramp bark, swollen glands, more... Samhain, ukranian beauty, ngetal or reed, more...
Ruis/elder Rebalancer, nettles, nitrogen, trets infection, more... Frau Holle, guardian, death, more...
Ailm/pine red bark, survivor, light, symbiosis, undulating, pitch, tar, resin, incense, more...  
Iodh/yew no resin, poisonous, immortal, layering, resurrection, yew bows, more... 5,000 years, tumulus, bluestones, Odin, yew island, Iona, Glastonbury, Danu, more...