Herbology 101:The study of magical and mundane plants

Standard Equipment

Earmuffs Dragonhide Gloves Mask Closed Toe Shoes

Dragon Dung Centaur Tears Mooncalf Dung Wand Apron

Basic Plant Care It is necessary to understand that each plant has it’s own needs in order to survive.

When planting, always consider the following things:

- The type of soil

- The depth that the seed should be planted

- How much sunlight and water it needs

Also, it is important to remember that repotting a plant will boost it’s confidence, which will in

turn make it flourish. This process usually changes the plant’s diet, allowing it to either consume

more or less then it’s usual intake. Sunlight and water dosages can change as well. This is very

important to note when considering repotting a plant.

Habitat also greatly affects a plant, which is why some of them have relocated themselves to

better suit their needs. Sometimes, they can be disruptive to other plants who are native to the

area, but other times its best for the foreign plant to relocate to an area that is appropriate to

what they need.

Usage in Potions

Plants can have a variety of uses in potions.

You can find them in several sleeping potions,

however, they are also used to freshness to beauty

potions or a scent to perfumes.

In medicinal potions, they are selected specifically

on their toxicity and temperament.

Herbs and Fungi

Gillyweed

- A rare herb from the Mediterranean Sea.

- Lives with a pH range of 7.9-8.4 (moderately

alkaline)

- Consumes large amounts of water but does not

need a lot of sunshine.

- Slimy in texture, greenish grey in colour.

- The consumption of Gillyweed leaves the

person with webbed toes and fingers, and gills

grow on their neck to breathe underwater.

- The feeling when consumed is a refreshing,

nourishing taste which has created a popular

drink known as Gillywater.

Valerian Root/Sprigs

- Native to Europe and Asia, but has migrated to North

America

- Has sedative qualities, making it popular in sleeping

potions.

- The sprig can be used in perfumes as it holds a nice scent.

- The roots are sometimes worn at weddings by the grooms

to ward off evil elves.

- Grows up to 5 feet and sports beautiful white flowers.

- It requires up to 7 hours of sunlight and should be planted

1/8 of an inch down in a soil with a pH level of 4.5-5.0 (very

acidic).

- Keep this plant away from cats as they are attracted to it

similar to catnip.

Potions it is found in:

- Draught of the Living Death

- Forgetfulness Potion

Knotgrass

- Native to European forests.

- Can grow before 5 cm to 4 metres tall with a

pH level from 6.1-6.5 (Slightly acidic) to 6.6-7.3

(Neutral) and plenty of water. The more sunlight

you give it, the faster it grows.

- Blooms many different colours of flowers.

- It’s growth pattern is so irregular due to it

having the ability to stop animals from growing.

- Used in love potions, mead and the infamous

Polyjuice Potion. Can also be found in

treatments for urinary tract infections.

Dittany

- Grows naturally on the mountainside of

Crete, Greece, however, abundance can be

grown in a greenhouse.

- Is 20-30 cm in height and requires quite a

bit of warmth and sunlight to survive. It

grows in a soil pH level of 6.6-7.3 (Neutral)

and does not need to be watered often.

- Used in curing ailments, also prevents

scarring, and in love potions.

- A well known potion that Dittany is found

in is the Wiggenweld Potion.

Dangerous Plants

Mandragora

- Found in European countries.

- Similar to a parsnip, it grows between 5 - 40 cm and

also resembles a tobacco plant.

- The Mandrake itself can cause comas, hallucinations

and can bring petrified things back to life.

- It is very important to note: a full grown Mandrake’s

scream will cause instant death, so it is highly

recommended that you wear earmuffs when handling this

plant. It will only scream once you have pulled it from it’s

pot.

- FIRST AID: If a person has been knocked into a coma

by contact from a Mandrake, wash the spot immediately

and get a healer as well as a tandisu injection. Please

note, death cannot be stopped once occurred.

Devil’s Snare

- Native to the Scottish highlands and lowlands.

- Grows in all damp and dark areas such as caves.

- Has long thick tendrils that are usually swinging about, and

despite the darkness, they are actually a bright vivid green

colour.

- They are also known as the assassination plant, getting this

name due to it’s nature of grabbing victims as they are not

suspecting it, wrapping them up tightly and squeezing them to

death.

- To escape, one must not move in the grip of this plant and it will

simply drop you. And if you have an opportunity, use a spell such

as Lumos Solem to keep it from sneaking up on you again.

- FIRST AID: If someone has suffocated from this plant, use the

reviving spell Rennervate or Anepneo if they have choked on

their tongue.

Bubotuber

- Originally from Scotland, it resembles a type of slug.

- Contains a pus that must be diluted in order to be safe

for the use in treating acne. Otherwise, it causes rashes

and burns.

- To grow this plant, the bulb needs to be planted in a

dark, nutrient rich soil and needs a ton of Dragon dung.

It also does not need much sun and it can withstand

very cold weather.

- To dilute the pus, mix it with some Dittany in liquid

form and Gillywater.

- FIRST AID: If you come in contact with the pus, clean

the wound thoroughly under cold water and then apply

Dittany to it. It may also be necessary to consume a

potion for the pain.

Rat RootKnown as Acorus calamus, this plant is reed like in

appearance and can grow up to one metre. It is a water plant

and can be found in fairly moist soils. If one were to grow

this plant, you must water it several times a day. It is also

required to have a ton of sunlight and have it grow in shallow

water.

It has a bitter smell and taste, but it can be used as a

substitute for ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon however it is

not usually recommended to take high intakes. Rat Root is

sometimes paired with romance, but it is not a favourite of

Herbologistsas it can be used against women.

It has many qualities such as being a sedative, a hallucinogen,

and an aphrodisiac and it’s usage is varied.

Rat Root can be help cure tooth aches, burns and eye diseases

in it’s normal state. In a powdered form, it has the ability to

clear coughs and can also help people who’ve suffered a

stroke.

Advanced Herbology

Bouncing Bulbs- Known for it’s ability to bounce around

when not restrained.

- The bulb like body is purple with green leaves sprouting from the top.

- It is recommended to have a ton of dirt with a neutral pH level and quite

a bit of sunlight.

- The best kind of water to have for this plant is Centaur Tears.

- Can grow as big as an average doorway.

- Usually only bounces towards you if it feels aggressive.

- If the bulb is rather small, one can cast Flipendo and it will bounce back.

- For a much bigger bulb, cast Incendio as the flames are the only thing

that will subdue the plant.

Gurdyroot

- Similar to the shape of a green onion, however it is distinguished by it’s foul smell.

- Their purpose is to ward off evil which can be used in a Gurdy Infusion drink that tastes

an awful lot like boogers.

- They are able to grow in diverse environments, provided that there is enough sunlight

and rich soils to help it grow.

- Attracts Gulping Plimpies which are little bugs that will gnaw away at the root and cause it to

break off.

- Plant it in a pot that is seven and a half times the size of the bulb and place a protective

spell around the root of the Gurdyroot.

Aconite- Known as Monkshood or Wolfbane.

- It is a poisonous sedative which can be used to slow

ones heart rate down. Also used to treat pain in the skin.

- Found in forests and mountains.

- When growing aconite, always wear your Dragon-hide

gloves to protect your skin. DO NOT leave it’s roots

exposed.

- Grow it in dark, nutrient rich soil and keep it in the shade.

- If you have open wounds on your hands that have been

touched by Aconite, apply an antidote and then take it to a

qualified healer.

- Death will occur if there is a high dosage of Aconite, usually

within two to six hours of exposure.

- Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and feelings

of burning and tingling in various parts of the body. As death

nears, numbing will occur all over the body.

Wormwood

- A plant that is often associated with sad or bitter feelings.

- Used in potions for as long as wizards have known.

- It grows to a height of one to two metres and is seen in Europe to have wood-like roots.

- Prefers to grow in salty water.

- Found in the Draught of the Living Dead as well as potions to help with digestive problems.

- Ingestion of Wormwood causes sweating, increased hunger, and pain reduction. The leaves

are used to treat insect bites.

- Can also be used in potions to treat fevers, gall bladder problems and liver disease.

Mundane Plants

Lilies- Come in many different colours and are most

recognized by three petals with three or more

sepals.

- To plant a Lily, you need a bulb that will be

planted a 1/4 inch into the ground.

- Nutrient rich soil and full sun access is required.

- The stem is thick, however the flowers can

sometimes weigh on the stem, causing it to bend

downwards.

- Allow the Lily to “die” every year before winter

and it will regrow in the spring.

- These flowers attract birds and are also a high

source of fibre when dried.

- It is known for treating most things that relate to

the heart.

- They interact well with magic.

- Good in the treatment of burns and scars. In an

ointment, it can be used to treat burns and spider

bites.

- Used to induce feelings of happiness.

English Rose- Comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours.

- Prefers to grow in partial to full sunlight.

- Sometimes classified as a shrub, it is important to

consider width when planting.

- Thrives in a pH level of 5.5-7.0.

- Dragon dung is recommended as a fertilizer for this

plant.

- They do require a bit of water, but do not over water.

- Can be made into Rose Oil which is very costly, but

very effective in treating many ailments.

- Some things the oil can treat is:

- Burns

- Stomach problems

- Rabid dog bites

- Menstrual pains

- Colds and etc.

Challenges in HerbologyThe Gardening Effect

To simplify the understanding plants and the work of a Herbologist, which has only recently

been deemed as a pretty lame profession in the last 100 years. Everything in those days had to be

proven by seeing instead of believing, which in turn was adapted by all muggles. This effected

the natural world and anything unexplainable in it. Wizards then decided that anything natural or

unexplainable was deemed a ‘muggle” thing. This included the work of Herbologists alike.

To this day, the Gardening Effect creates funding problems for these Herbologists who were

trying to study natural things. This has proved to be a challenge for the progress of understanding

plants due to the lack of money for research centres.

It is also known that those who start out as a Herbologist often turn to potions or healing as an

alternative as it is much less challenging to do their jobs.

Challenges in HerbologyContinued…

Alien Species

Another challenge that most Herbologists face is something called alien species where invasive,

non-native plants have started to grow where they shouldn’t be. This can cause a huge

disruption in the existing ecosystem where the native plants thrive.

The process for a plant to grow in a foreign territory is as follows:

- The plant will relocate to the new territory

- The plant will then adapt to it’s new environment

- The plant then takes over it’s new environment, growing in such numbers

that the original ecosystem cannot handle.

These alien plants use up a ton of resources, draining the native plants from their required

nutrients. The most common problem is with water which can result in the ground being very

dry when it begins to invade. It can cause extinction of the native plants due to it draining any

vitalities that they need to grow, which also can result in fires and floods. This can be detrimental

to rare and endangered plants that can only be found in certain territories.