Trees have played an important role in many of the world's mythologies and religions. They have come in a variety of different forms and seem to have many different meanings. Examples are Yggdrasil in the Norse Mythology, the Christmas Tree that is derived from Germanic mythology, the Tree of Knowledge of Judaism and Christianity, and the Bodhi tree in Buddhism. In some religions, such as Hinduism, trees are said to be the homes of tree spirits. The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth A tree can be defined as a large, perennial, woody plant. ... It has been suggested that Myth be merged into this article or section. ... This article contains nonstandard pronunciation information which should be rewritten using the International Phonetic Alphabet. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... A Christmas tree in a German home One of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas, the Christmas tree is normally an evergreen conifer tree that is brought in the house or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the... In the Hebrew Bibles Book of Genesis, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden from which God forbade Adam and Eve to eat. ... Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ... A direct clone descendant of the Bodhi tree, planted at Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu, Hawaii The Bodhi tree was a large and very old specimen of Sacred Fig, located at the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, about 100 km (60 miles) from Patna in the Indian state of Bihar... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia... Hinduism (सनातन धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma, and Vaidika-Dharma) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the bedrock of the Veda scriptures. ... The Dryad by Evelyn De Morgan Dryads are tree spirits in Greek mythology. ...

Examples

Trees of Cosmic Significance

• Tree of Life (Abrahamic Mythology, Cabala/Jewish mysticism)
• Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Abrahamic Mythology)
• Yggdrasil (Norse mythology)
• Austras Koks (Latvian mythology)

Mythical Creatures (or Deities) Relating to Trees The Tree-of-Life is a fictional plant (the ancestor of yams, with similar appearance and taste) in Larry Nivens Known Space universe, for which all Hominids have an in-built genetic craving. ... Abrahamic mythology is a term used especially by scholars of comparative religion, which usually interprets the stories of the Abrahamic religions as variations of an ancient tradition of explanatory stories, which through the centuries has undergone several important amendments, resulting in several, distinct religious traditions. ... The tree of life Kabbalah (קבלה Reception, Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cabalah, Cabbala, Cabbalah, Kabala, Kabalah, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah) is a religious philosophical system claiming an insight into divine nature. ... The tree of life Kabbalah (קבלה Reception, Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cabalah, Cabbala, Cabbalah, Kabala, Kabalah, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah) is a religious philosophical system claiming an insight into divine nature. ... In the Hebrew Bibles Book of Genesis, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden from which God forbade Adam and Eve to eat. ... Abrahamic mythology is a term used especially by scholars of comparative religion, which usually interprets the stories of the Abrahamic religions as variations of an ancient tradition of explanatory stories, which through the centuries has undergone several important amendments, resulting in several, distinct religious traditions. ... This article contains nonstandard pronunciation information which should be rewritten using the International Phonetic Alphabet. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... In Latvian mythology, Austras Koks (tree of the east or tree of the dawn) was a tree that grew from the start of Saules (the suns) daily journey across the sky. ... Latvian mythology as being Baltic mythology is very close to Lithuanian mythology Latvian mythology is based primarily off collections of folklore and song texts. ...

• Dryad or Forest Nymph (Greek mythology)
  • Hamadryad or Tree Nymph (Greek mythology)
    • Maliad or Fruit Tree Nymph (Greek mythology)
      • Ampelos or Grape Vine Nymph (Greek mythology)
      • Balanos or Acorn/Oak Tree Nymph (Greek mythology)
      • Cariad or Walnut Tree Nymph (Greek mythology)
      • Cranae or Cherry Tree Nymph (Greek mythology)
      • Morea or Mulberry Bush Nymph (Greek mythology)
      • Syke or Fig Tree Nymph (Greek mythology)
    • Meliad or Ash Tree Nymph (Greek mythology)
• Green Man (Various mythologies)
• Leshy (Slavic folklore)

Miscellaneous Dryad - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... A dense growth of softwoods (a forest) in the Sierra Nevada Range of Northern California A forest (a. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... Categories: Mythology stubs | Nymphs ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... A fruit tree is a tree bearing fruit — the structures formed by the ripened ovary of a flower containing one or more seeds. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... In Greek mythology, Ampelos (vine) was a satyr and good friend of Dionysus. ... Species Vitis acerifolia Vitis aestivalis Vitis amurensis Vitis arizonica Vitis x bourquina Vitis californica Vitis x champinii Vitis cinerea Vitis x doaniana Vitis girdiana Vitis labrusca Vitis x labruscana Vitis monticola Vitis mustangensis Vitis x novae-angliae Vitis palmata Vitis riparia Vitis rotundifolia Vitis rupestris Vitis shuttleworthii Vitis tiliifolia Vitis... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... Acorns of Quercus kerrii The acorn is the fruit of the oak tree. ... Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus, and some related genera, notably Lithocarpus. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... Cariad is the Welsh word for Love. ... Species See text The walnuts (genus Juglans) are plants in the walnut family Juglandaceae. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... Cranae is an island off the shore of Gytheio. ... Species Several, including: Prunus apetala Prunus avium Prunus campanulata Prunus canescens Prunus cerasus Prunus concinna Prunus conradinae Prunus dielsiana Prunus emarginata Prunus fruticosa Prunus incisa Prunus litigiosa Prunus mahaleb Prunus maximowiczii Prunus nipponica Prunus pensylvanica Prunus pilosiuscula Prunus rufa Prunus sargentii Prunus serrula Prunus serrulata Prunus speciosa Prunus subhirtella Prunus... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... The Morea and surrounding states carved from the Byzantine Empire, as they were in 1265 (William R. Shepherd, Historical Atlas, 1911) The name Morea (Μωρέας) for Peloponnesos first appears in the 10th century in Byzantine chronicles. ... Species See text Mulberry (Morus) is a genus of 10-16 species of deciduous trees native to warm temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and North America, with the majority of the species native to Asia. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis - Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina - Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica - Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Bay Fig Ficus microcarpa - Chinese Banyan Ficus... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... Species Many, see text. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... Green Man depiction from British Cathedral The Green Man is a symbol of uncertain origin common in the British Isles. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Slavic mythology and Slavic religion evolved over more than 3,000 years. ...

• Christmas tree (Christian mythology)
• Glastonbury Thorn (Christian mythology)
• Oracular trees (Various mythologies)
  • Oak tree (Norse & Celtic Mythology)
  • Rowan tree (Roman mysticism & Stregheria)
• Talking trees (Various mythologies)
• Yule log (Norse mythology)
• Deciduous Trees (Various mythologies)

A Christmas tree in a German home One of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas, the Christmas tree is normally an evergreen conifer tree that is brought in the house or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the... Christian mythology is a body of stories that explains or symbolizes Christian beliefs. ... Glastonbury Abbey in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, now presents itself as traditionally the oldest above-ground Christian church in the world situated in the mystical land of Avalon by dating the founding of the community of monks at 63 A.D., the legendary visit of Joseph of Arimathea, who was supposed... Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus, and some related genera, notably Lithocarpus. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... A Celtic cross incorporating the Celtic knotwork motif associated with later Celtic cultures Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, the apparent religion of the Iron Age Celts. ... This article is about the rowan tree; for other uses of the term, see Rowan (disambiguation). ... Roman mythology can be considered as two parts. ... Stregheria is an antiquated word for witchcraft in the Toscano dialect of the Italian language. ... Talking Trees are a form of sentient vegetable life common to many mythologies and stories, most famously the Ents in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth stories. ... A chocolate yule log The Yule log comes from the Yule festival, which gave rise to many other popular Christmas traditions. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Deciduous trees occur often in mythology. ...

Fictional Trees Inspired by Myth

A number of fictional "tree-beings" were also inspired by folklore and mythology, or taken directly from them. Some examples are:

• Ent (Lord of the Rings)
• Treant (Dungeons & Dragons)
• Unnamed Talking Trees (The Wizard of Oz)