To finish our Herbology studies, we will be visiting Greenhouse # 4, which I consider it to be the most dangerous Greenhouse of the ones we have visited so far. In this Greenhouse magical plants are kept. By magical plants I mean plants and herbs that have been mentioned in the Harry Potter books. Due to the dangerous nature of some of the plants kept in here, it is important that you as healers known them, not so much because of its healing properties, but more to defend yourselves against them, to know which ones are safe or not safe to use with patients, and of course, to know which of them can be used in potions. Some of them are muggle plants, some others are known potions ingredients, and some others are more exotic and dangerous so you should proceed with caution.
Once again, please remember that it is not a good idea to mess with the plants, and that you should not try experimenting or consuming any of them. These techniques or whatever are not to be used in the diagnosis or treatment of any disease. Take your protection gloves out, pick your partner, and treat nicely the plants. Are you ready? Let’s begin!
Once again, please remember that it is not a good idea to mess with the plants, and that you should not try experimenting or consuming any of them. These techniques or whatever are not to be used in the diagnosis or treatment of any disease. Take your protection gloves out, pick your partner, and treat nicely the plants. Are you ready? Let’s begin!
MUGGLE PLANTS:
* ACONITE: Also known as Wolfsbane, aconite is a very dangerous and poisonous plant. It is also called Monkshood because of its flowers. The shape of them resembles a monk’s cowl.
* BELLADONA: Also known as Deadly Nightshade, Death Cherries, and Devil’s Berries. The berries and the foliage of this plant are very toxic, and they can cause delirium and hallucinations. Please be extremely careful! Essence of this plant are part of a student’s standard potion-making kit.
* DITTANY: This herb can treat digestive ills, and it also has some anti-inflammatory properties. In Harry Potter, we learned that it is also used to treat wounds when Draco Malfoy was attacked with the Sectusempra curse, and when Ron Weasley lost a piece of his arm through being Splinched.
* GINGER: It can treat heart diseases, diarrhea, and nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness, and chemotherapy.
* HELLEBORE: Many species of Hellebore are poisonous. In early medicine, two kind of hellebore were recognized: White Hellebore and Black Hellebore. The first one was sued by Hippocrates as a purgative. The second one was used in paralysis, but it also causes thirst, vertigo, suffocation, and slows down the heart rate.
* KNOTGRASS: It has astringent, diuretic, and purgative properties. It is useful in diarrhea, nose bleeds, and hemorrhages.
* LOVAGE: Hogwarts students study it during their 5th year. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix we learned that lovage is “most efficacious in the inflaming of the brain and is therefore used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts, where the wizard is desirous of producing hot-headness and recklessness.”
* MALLOWSWEET AND SAGE: These plants may have some Divination properties since they are used by Centaurs. They burn them to observe and analyze the fumes and flames to help in their stargazing.
* NETTLE: It has anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, and tonic properties. It is a good remedy against arthritic, hepatic, and rheumatic conditions.
* BELLADONA: Also known as Deadly Nightshade, Death Cherries, and Devil’s Berries. The berries and the foliage of this plant are very toxic, and they can cause delirium and hallucinations. Please be extremely careful! Essence of this plant are part of a student’s standard potion-making kit.
* DITTANY: This herb can treat digestive ills, and it also has some anti-inflammatory properties. In Harry Potter, we learned that it is also used to treat wounds when Draco Malfoy was attacked with the Sectusempra curse, and when Ron Weasley lost a piece of his arm through being Splinched.
* GINGER: It can treat heart diseases, diarrhea, and nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness, and chemotherapy.
* HELLEBORE: Many species of Hellebore are poisonous. In early medicine, two kind of hellebore were recognized: White Hellebore and Black Hellebore. The first one was sued by Hippocrates as a purgative. The second one was used in paralysis, but it also causes thirst, vertigo, suffocation, and slows down the heart rate.
* KNOTGRASS: It has astringent, diuretic, and purgative properties. It is useful in diarrhea, nose bleeds, and hemorrhages.
* LOVAGE: Hogwarts students study it during their 5th year. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix we learned that lovage is “most efficacious in the inflaming of the brain and is therefore used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts, where the wizard is desirous of producing hot-headness and recklessness.”
* MALLOWSWEET AND SAGE: These plants may have some Divination properties since they are used by Centaurs. They burn them to observe and analyze the fumes and flames to help in their stargazing.
* NETTLE: It has anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, and tonic properties. It is a good remedy against arthritic, hepatic, and rheumatic conditions.
KNOWN POTION INGREDIENT:
* ASPHODEL: It is traditionally associated with the underworld. Powdered roots of this plant are used to make “Draught of the Living Death”, which causes someone to fall into a deep slumber. Asphodel flowers are spiky, and they can be white, pink, or yellow.
* DAISY: The roots of this plant are used to make “Shrinking Solution.”
* DITTANY: Also known as Burning Bush because it releases flammable vapors. Shredded dittany is used for making the “Winggenweld Potion”, which can awaken a person who has been induced to sleep through magic.
* FLUXWEED: Also known as “false pennyroyal”, this plant is hard to obtain because it is endangered species. It is an ingredient of the “Polyjuice Potion”, but you have to pick it at full moon.
* GINGER: Its roots are also an ingredient for the “Wit-Sharpening Potion.”
* HELLEBORE: It is one of the ingredients of “Draught of Peace.”
* KNOTGRASS: It is one of the ingredients of “Polyjuice Potion.”
* NETTLE: Fresh nettles are one of the ingredients of the “Boil-Cure Potion”, and also in the videogames, dry nettles are one of the ingredients of the “Herbicide Potion”, which is used to kill plants.
* SNEEZEWORT: Another ingredient for the “Befuddlement Draught.”
* WORMWOOD: This plant can be poisonous and it is one of the ingredients of the “Draught of Living Death.”
* DAISY: The roots of this plant are used to make “Shrinking Solution.”
* DITTANY: Also known as Burning Bush because it releases flammable vapors. Shredded dittany is used for making the “Winggenweld Potion”, which can awaken a person who has been induced to sleep through magic.
* FLUXWEED: Also known as “false pennyroyal”, this plant is hard to obtain because it is endangered species. It is an ingredient of the “Polyjuice Potion”, but you have to pick it at full moon.
* GINGER: Its roots are also an ingredient for the “Wit-Sharpening Potion.”
* HELLEBORE: It is one of the ingredients of “Draught of Peace.”
* KNOTGRASS: It is one of the ingredients of “Polyjuice Potion.”
* NETTLE: Fresh nettles are one of the ingredients of the “Boil-Cure Potion”, and also in the videogames, dry nettles are one of the ingredients of the “Herbicide Potion”, which is used to kill plants.
* SNEEZEWORT: Another ingredient for the “Befuddlement Draught.”
* WORMWOOD: This plant can be poisonous and it is one of the ingredients of the “Draught of Living Death.”
EXOTIC PLANTS:
* ABYSSINIAN SHRIVELFIG: Second year students at Hogwarts work with these plants. They learn how to prune them, and once they are peeled. Abyssinian Shrivelfigs are used to make “Shrinking Solution”.
* ALIHOTSY: Beware! Consumption of the leaves of this plant causes hysteria. If you accidentally eat it, a good antidote is the treacle produced by the Glumbumble.
* BOUNCING BULB: Students at Hogwarts learn how to repot them during their 4th year. If you don’t hand them firmly these bulbs will fall and jump. The bulbs are purple and have a bunch of leave growing on the top. They can be aggressive and if a mature bouncing bulb is out of control, the best thing to do is cast an Incendio Charm to wither it.
* BUBOTUBER: It looks like a big, black, and thick slug. It has shiny swellings that are filled with a green-yellow pus, that smells like petrol. You can collect the pus by squeezing the bubotuber. But don’t judge this plant just for its look! If they are well diluted and processed, bubotubers can be used to treat and cure acne, however, if they are undiluted, bubotubers will cause you painful boils by just touching them!.
* CHINESE CHOMPING CABBAGE: It is native to China, and it is used as potions ingredient by 5th year students at Hogwarts.
* DEVIL’S SNARE: This plant is extremely dangerous! Its vines are soft but they also possess some sense of touch. If anyone touches it, Devil’s Snare will bind their arms and legs, choking that person. Once trapped, struggling won’t get you any farther. On the contrary, the more a person struggles, the tighter Devil’s Snares binds them. This plant loves shade and dark environments, and it hates light and fire. The best way to defeat Devil’s Snare is by casting a flame spell like “bluebell flames.”
* FANGED GERANIUM: This is a magical flower that has sharp teeth and that can bite people. It is not an easy flower because Fanged Geraniums appear in Herbology O.W.L.s
* FLITTERBLOOM: This magical plant has long, swaying tentacles. It may be related to Devil’s Snare because superficially it resembles that plant, however, Flitterblooms are harmless and can be kept as a pot plant.
* FLUTTERBY BUSH: Students at Hogwarts learn how to prune this bush in their 4th year. Flutterby Bush quivers and shakes, and once every century it produces flowers that adapt their scent to attract the unwary.
* GILLYWEED: This is a water plant from the Mediterranean that looks like a “bundle of slimy, greyish-green rat tails.” Eating gillyweed will give you the capacity to breathe underwater because you will have gills and webbed hands and feet. These effects last for about an hour. Elladora Ketteridge was the first one to discover the properties of gillyweed, however they were credited to Beaumont Marjoribanks a century later.
* GURDYROOT: It resembles a green onion and its taste is disgusting. According to Luna Lovegood, gurdyroots can ward off Gulping Plimpies.
* HONKING DAFFODIL: Just like a regular daffodil, Honking Daffodils are very pretty and are like any daffodil with one difference: they make noise! Honk, honk!!
* LEAPING TOADSTOOL: Hogwarts students work with this plant in their 2nd year. They are magical mushrooms that can jump.
* MANDRAKE: This is also a muggle plant but for the purposes of the lesson, we will study it as magical and exotic plant. The root of a mandrake is human-shaped. First of all, you should know that the cry of the Mandrake can be fatal. It is extremely important to wear your earmuffs while working with them. Despite that, Mandrake is also beneficial. When they mature, mandrakes can be harvested and used in potions and antidotes. The most important potion that can be made from Mandrake is the “Mandrake Restorative Draught”, which cures petrification.
* MIMBULUS MIMBLETONIA: This is a magical plant that looks like a cactus. Instead of spines it has boils that spew Stinksnap, a dark-green, non-poisonous liquid. That is its defense mechanism. Mimbulus Mimbletonia can also treat shyness and nervousness.
* PUFFAPOD: Hogwarts students study these magical plants in their 3rd year. They produce pink seedpods which are filled with shining beans. When these beans are dropped, they instantly flower.
* SCREECHSNAP: Students at Hogwarts work with this plant during their 5th year. Screchsnaps move and make noise. Be careful, if you give them too much dragon dung they will become irritated and protest with annoying squeaks!
* SELF-FERTILISING SHRUBS: 5th year Hogwarts students learn about these shrubs. They feed on flesh and they produce their own fertilizer. If you want to look at this plant please look for it in your copy of Flesh-Eating Trees of the World.
* VENOMOUS TENTACULA: Be careful because this plant is very dangerous! It is a green, spike plant with teeth. Its vines move and they try to grab their prey. The bite of Venomous Tentacula is extremely poisonous. To defend yourselves from this plant, a well casted Diffindo spell should do the trick. The juice of the Venomous Tentacula is a poison that when consumed creates “the sensation of burning inside”, and also turns the skin purple. The seeds of the Venomous Tentacula are a Class C non-tradable substance.
* ALIHOTSY: Beware! Consumption of the leaves of this plant causes hysteria. If you accidentally eat it, a good antidote is the treacle produced by the Glumbumble.
* BOUNCING BULB: Students at Hogwarts learn how to repot them during their 4th year. If you don’t hand them firmly these bulbs will fall and jump. The bulbs are purple and have a bunch of leave growing on the top. They can be aggressive and if a mature bouncing bulb is out of control, the best thing to do is cast an Incendio Charm to wither it.
* BUBOTUBER: It looks like a big, black, and thick slug. It has shiny swellings that are filled with a green-yellow pus, that smells like petrol. You can collect the pus by squeezing the bubotuber. But don’t judge this plant just for its look! If they are well diluted and processed, bubotubers can be used to treat and cure acne, however, if they are undiluted, bubotubers will cause you painful boils by just touching them!.
* CHINESE CHOMPING CABBAGE: It is native to China, and it is used as potions ingredient by 5th year students at Hogwarts.
* DEVIL’S SNARE: This plant is extremely dangerous! Its vines are soft but they also possess some sense of touch. If anyone touches it, Devil’s Snare will bind their arms and legs, choking that person. Once trapped, struggling won’t get you any farther. On the contrary, the more a person struggles, the tighter Devil’s Snares binds them. This plant loves shade and dark environments, and it hates light and fire. The best way to defeat Devil’s Snare is by casting a flame spell like “bluebell flames.”
* FANGED GERANIUM: This is a magical flower that has sharp teeth and that can bite people. It is not an easy flower because Fanged Geraniums appear in Herbology O.W.L.s
* FLITTERBLOOM: This magical plant has long, swaying tentacles. It may be related to Devil’s Snare because superficially it resembles that plant, however, Flitterblooms are harmless and can be kept as a pot plant.
* FLUTTERBY BUSH: Students at Hogwarts learn how to prune this bush in their 4th year. Flutterby Bush quivers and shakes, and once every century it produces flowers that adapt their scent to attract the unwary.
* GILLYWEED: This is a water plant from the Mediterranean that looks like a “bundle of slimy, greyish-green rat tails.” Eating gillyweed will give you the capacity to breathe underwater because you will have gills and webbed hands and feet. These effects last for about an hour. Elladora Ketteridge was the first one to discover the properties of gillyweed, however they were credited to Beaumont Marjoribanks a century later.
* GURDYROOT: It resembles a green onion and its taste is disgusting. According to Luna Lovegood, gurdyroots can ward off Gulping Plimpies.
* HONKING DAFFODIL: Just like a regular daffodil, Honking Daffodils are very pretty and are like any daffodil with one difference: they make noise! Honk, honk!!
* LEAPING TOADSTOOL: Hogwarts students work with this plant in their 2nd year. They are magical mushrooms that can jump.
* MANDRAKE: This is also a muggle plant but for the purposes of the lesson, we will study it as magical and exotic plant. The root of a mandrake is human-shaped. First of all, you should know that the cry of the Mandrake can be fatal. It is extremely important to wear your earmuffs while working with them. Despite that, Mandrake is also beneficial. When they mature, mandrakes can be harvested and used in potions and antidotes. The most important potion that can be made from Mandrake is the “Mandrake Restorative Draught”, which cures petrification.
* MIMBULUS MIMBLETONIA: This is a magical plant that looks like a cactus. Instead of spines it has boils that spew Stinksnap, a dark-green, non-poisonous liquid. That is its defense mechanism. Mimbulus Mimbletonia can also treat shyness and nervousness.
* PUFFAPOD: Hogwarts students study these magical plants in their 3rd year. They produce pink seedpods which are filled with shining beans. When these beans are dropped, they instantly flower.
* SCREECHSNAP: Students at Hogwarts work with this plant during their 5th year. Screchsnaps move and make noise. Be careful, if you give them too much dragon dung they will become irritated and protest with annoying squeaks!
* SELF-FERTILISING SHRUBS: 5th year Hogwarts students learn about these shrubs. They feed on flesh and they produce their own fertilizer. If you want to look at this plant please look for it in your copy of Flesh-Eating Trees of the World.
* VENOMOUS TENTACULA: Be careful because this plant is very dangerous! It is a green, spike plant with teeth. Its vines move and they try to grab their prey. The bite of Venomous Tentacula is extremely poisonous. To defend yourselves from this plant, a well casted Diffindo spell should do the trick. The juice of the Venomous Tentacula is a poison that when consumed creates “the sensation of burning inside”, and also turns the skin purple. The seeds of the Venomous Tentacula are a Class C non-tradable substance.
And with these magical and exotic plants we finish our studies in Herbology! I’m sure you’ll have a bright future since you survived working with these dangerous plants! Please proceed with your last assignment and start studying for your final exam. Don’t forget to wash your hands! Class dismissed! :)
Sources:
- http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/herbology.html
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/38975/asphodel
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna
- http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Muggles'_Guide_to_Harry_Potter/Magic/Dittany
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellebore
- http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/k/knogra08.html