Flora of Middle-Earth

Why would the Miller Library add a book about the flora of a legendary place? Until I was given a personal copy of Flora of Middle-Earth, it was not an obvious addition to our collection. Written by botanist Walter S. Judd and richly illustrated by artist Graham A. Judd, this American father and son have created a beautiful book, featuring botanical woodblock illustrations – but it is very much more.

The authors write in their introduction, “It is obvious from even a cursory reading of The Lord of the Rings that the book was written by a person who was botanically knowledgeable—but more than that—a writer who really loved plants!” J. R. R. Tolkien also made this last point very clear in his non-fiction writings. He developed many languages and customs for his created peoples of Middle-Earth – why wouldn’t he develop this world’s plant lore, too?

Most of the plants in Tolkien’s legendarium can be found in his native Great Britain, but even the best botanists will not find majestic mallorn trees or the delicate elanor and niphredil flowers that bloom beneath them, as in the land of Lothlórien. However, in some ways you just might. Based on Tolkien’s writings about his fiction, Walter Judd has deduced that the niphredil is based on the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), while elanor is akin to pimpernels, in the genus Anagallis.

Herein lies the value of this book to the average botanist or gardener. Tolkien’s lore is closely tied to his British heritage; he essentially created the ancient mythology that his country mostly lacked. The authors carefully, and in great detail, combine both natural and legendary history, to enrich the plant-loving reader’s appreciation of both.

This is a book to savor when you’re inside by the fire, waiting for winter to be over. So put on your old “Frodo Lives!” t-shirt and begin reading!

Published in the January 2019 Leaflet, Volume 6 Issue 1.