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# The parasitic plant Peter's Cross in bloom in France and in Russian folk beliefs
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/vo-frantsii-uzhe-vo-vsiu-tsvetet-petrov-krest-skrytyi-ochen-krasivoe-rastenie-parazit-kotoroe-ne-imeet-svoego-khlorofilla-i-zhivet-za-schet-prikrepleniia-k-korniam-drugikh-rastenii/
- Published: 2022-03-23T10:09:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T19:06:24.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Faith, Nature, Ethnography

In France, toothwort is already in full bloom, a most beautiful parasitic plant that has no chlorophyll of its own and lives by attaching itself to the roots of other plants. In Russian it is called "Peter's cross" (petrov krest) for the shape of its rhizomes, which often resemble a cross. In the Russian tradition it is credited with mystical powers to drive away evil spirits, ill luck and every kind of harm. The roots of Peter's cross were placed in a bride's pouch of talismans together with coal, lythrum herb (plakun-trava), a needle, Maundy Thursday salt, a small amulet-locket and a poppy head. Peter's cross was also taken along as a talisman on a journey. It was used in the search for buried treasure, and was offered to the wood-sprite (leshy) and the water-sprite (vodyanoy) during hunting and fishing. In Melnikov-Pechersky it is associated with the figure of Peter-Paul, that is, the apostles Peter and Paul combined in a single person: Peter-Paul carries golden keys in one hand and Peter's cross in the other, and drives away the evil spirits. In folk medicine the plant is considered curative, though its roots are quite poisonous, and doctors do not recommend using them for self-treatment