Peridexion tree, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Perindens est arbor in india. fructus autem
huius arboris dulcis est totus dulcis et valde suavis.
Columbe autem delectantur in fructibus huius ar-
boris. habitantque in ea pascentes fructus eius.
Draco autem inimicus est columbis timetque arborem
et umbram eius. ubi columbe morantur. et non potest ap-
propinquare arbori neque umbre eius. Si enim umbra
eius venerit ad occidentem; fugit draco ad orien-
tem. si ad orientem; fugit ad occidentem. Si autem eve-
nerit ut columba inveniatur extra arborem aut um-
bram eius; occidit eam draco. Arborem deum pa-
trem intellige. umbram filium. sicut gabriel
dicit ad mariam. Spiritus sanctus superveniet in te
et virtus altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Fructum; ce-
lestem sapientiam. deum scilicet. Columbam spi-
ritum sanctum. id est spiritualem columbam
intelligibilem de celo descendentem et manentem
super te. ne foris fias ab eternitate. alienus a patre
et spiritu sancto. et draco. id est diabolus te inte-

There is a tree in India called perindens[1]. The fruit of this tree is sweet and most delightful. Of this tree, doves enjoy the fruits whereon they feed; therefore, they dwell there often. However, the dragon, who is the enemy of doves, fears the tree and its shade whereunder doves rest and cannot approach the tree nor its shade. If the shadow shifts to the west, the dragon flees to the east; if it moves to the east, the dragon flees to the west. If a dove happens to be found outside the tree or its shadow, the dragon kills it.

The tree is to be understood as God the Father and the shadow as the Son, as Gabriel says to Mary: 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.'[2] The fruit is heavenly wisdom, which is God himself. The dove symbolises the Holy Spirit, that is, the spiritual dove descending from heaven and remaining upon you, lest you be outside eternity, alienated from the Father and the Holy Spirit. If that were the case, the dragon, which symbolises the Devil, would kill you.

rimat. Nam si habeas spiritum sanctum non potest tibi ap-
propinquare draco. Attende ergo o homo et permane in fide
catholica. ibique habita ibique persevera. Immo quantum
potes cave ne extra domum foris inveniaris. et com-
prehendat te ille draco serpens antiqus et devoret te;
sicut iudam. qui mox ut exiit a domo foras id est a
fratribus apostolis; statim a demone devoratus est; et
periit.

If you have the Holy Spirit with yourself, the dragon cannot approach you. Therefore, take heed, O man, and remain in the Catholic faith. Dwell there and persevere there. Indeed, take as much care as you can not to be found outside your dwelling, lest the ancient serpent, the dragon, seizes and devours you, as he did with Judas, who, as soon as he went out of his dwelling—that is, away from his brothers, the apostles—was immediately devoured by the demon and perished.

Further Reading

Physiologus (1979) (M. J. Curley, Trans.). Austin: University of Texas Press.

Van Arsdall, A. and Graham, T. (eds.) (2012) Herbs and healers from the ancient Mediterranean through the medieval West: Essays in honor of John M. Riddle. University of New Mexico.

Hozeski, B.W. (trans.) (2001) Hildegard’s Healing Plants. Beacon Press. First electronic reading edition, 2002.

Siraisi, N.G. (1990) Medieval & Early Renaissance Medicine: An Introduction to Knowledge and Practice. The University of Chicago Press. Chicago and London.

Demaitre, L. (2013) Medieval Medicine: The Art of Healing, from Head to Toe. Praeger Series on the Middle Ages, Jane Chance (series editor). Praeger.

Plinio Secondo, G. (1986) Storia Naturale IV Medicina e Farmacologia Libro 28-32. Giulio Einaudi Editore, S.p.A., Torino.

Footnotes

[1] The Physiologus quotes this tree as peridexion (Physiologus, 1979, p. XIX): this is a mythological tree found in India: it attracts doves and deters snakes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peridexion_tree

[2] Luke NKJV 1:35: "And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.'"