HERB-501 Lessons

Year Five, Lesson One 
Preview of Dangerous and Difficult Plants

Introduction

Welcome to Greenhouse Five, students. It is here that I keep both toxic and odorous plants and where all the poisonous plants that I use as examples in class come from. However, I have not brought you here previously for good reason. Many of these odorous plants give off powders, scents, or debris that are harmful or problematic to breathe in. Today, though, there is just no substitute for walking through a garden of venomous variety. So, before we enter, we need to take a few precautions. Please dig dragonhide gloves out of your bags and grab both a set of goggles and a charmed mask.

Fortunately, we have the space and capability to separate the odorous plants and the toxic plants into different wings, so these masks alone will be enough to protect our respiratory systems from any residual pollutants as we study only our toxic friends today. When we re-enter this greenhouse later in the year and venture into the heart of the odorous plants, most adult witches and wizards prefer to rely on a well-cast Bubble-Head Charm. For now, these three things should be enough. Follow me!

Poisonous Precautions

As we enter, please note that I have shelves lined with a cornucopia of antidotes and cure-alls. If you dig around enough, you can even find a few bezoars. I should hope those will not be necessary, though! After all, by now I would imagine you know better than to traipse around Hogwarts putting foreign objects in your mouths. In any case, if  you’ll direct your attention back to my shelves of antidotes, there are a few more points I need to make. Being well-prepared is the key to protecting yourself from your store of poisonous plants. For every herb you have, you should make sure you also have an appropriate antidote. The majority of toxic plants are easily counteracted by the Antidote to Common Poisons, but you’ll notice I have the Antidote to Uncommon Poisons for plants higher up on the W.H.I.P.S. toxicity scale as well. Please note that there are situations, though only for a handful of plants, that would necessitate specific antidotes or potions, which I also have here. In addition to your traditional liquid potions, I have topical ointments of many kinds, which are excellent for plants that cause irritation, poisoning, or other problems simply via touch. Finally, I have a selection of potions that combat specific symptoms caused by these plants: a potion to stabilize one’s heartbeat, an Adrenaline Elixir, an Allergy Elixir, and quite a few more. All of these are necessary because I have such a wide range of poisonous plants in this greenhouse. 

As far as placement, you can see I have all of my potions in one place, though some people prefer to keep them grouped with their plants. It’s all about personal preference and usual greenhouse use. For example, since my greenhouses are used by large numbers of students, often off on their own in all corners of the greenhouse, I have set antidotes by the door so that anyone can find them regardless of familiarity with the greenhouse or plants. Additionally, your partner can easily go to one location for help, rather than trying to remember which plant he’s next to. For more personal and private greenhouses or growing areas, some people prefer to store their antidotes immediately next to the plants they treat. That way, if they’re asphyxiating from contact with a Lungbane, they don’t need to wind their way back through the entire maze of plants to find the right potion.

Never fear, though. No one will be asphyxiating on my watch! I have more than enough of each of the appropriate potions, and now that you know where everything is, all there is left to do is learn about the plants themselves!

Tiptoe Through the Toxins

Class C: Toxic plants are a bit old news at this point, as we have talked about plants from this class quite extensively. In fact, we have covered quite a few, including mistletoe, eucalyptus, oleander, rhubarb, Smogwood, Venomous Tentacula and wolfsbane. There are plenty more where those came from, though we have only just scratched the surface! Today there are five more to add to our repertoire.

Belladonna

Our first plant is a real show-stopper! Commonly known as “deadly nightshade,” this perennial flower is native to Europe and Asia and has been used by these areas’ inhabitants for centuries - as poison, medicine, and even a beauty aid. It grows three to five feet tall with a smooth, purplish stem and sprouts bell-shaped purple or dull red flowers. It requires well-drained, acidic soil (usually with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0, though it can go lower) that is kept constantly moist. It also does best with full or partial sun. 

As I said, this plant (also called Atropa belladonna) has been used for quite some time in a multitude of ways. It is used in eye drops to dilate the pupils, and in fact, this is where the plant gets one of its common names -- bella donna, or beautiful lady -- as large, full pupils were seen as quite attractive in Renaissance Italy. This use was refined slightly by witches and wizards in safer potions, though enlarged pupils have since gone out of fashion. More recently, deadly nightshade has been used to relax people and their tense muscles and aid in attacks of muscle spasms, and its flowers are frequently utilized in acid-reducing potions, like the Antacid Brew. All parts of the plant are used in very small amounts in the Levitation Libation, though its side effects are prominent and often deter frequent use. All parts are also used in Featherbottom’s Flying Ointment, a common aid for novice flyers. Just spread a dab of ointment on the broomstick and voila, even a novice will be flying high above the clouds. However, be wary of what happens when the effects wear off!

Of course, it wouldn’t do to gloss over its most common use as a poison. The roots, in particular, contain the most concentrated poison. In terms of specifics, it is best to collect the leaves and tops during the second year of growth and the roots in the fourth, as this is when they will be most potent -- regardless of whichever affect you desire. In belladonna, the poison’s onset comes with many side effects, such as irregular and accelerated heartbeat, lack of coordination, confusion, and hallucinations, just to name a few. Advanced poisoning will cause paralysis and eventually a coma. Simply touching the plant is not necessarily dangerous, however, if you have any open cuts or abrasions, the poison may enter into your system that way. It receives a W.H.I.P.S. rating of four on the toxicity scale. To counteract the poison, you must either consume the Antidote to Uncommon Poisons within hours of the poisoning (depending on how much is consumed), or alternatively, consume Atropa Acid, which, as the name might suggest, is quite rough on the stomach (though not actual acid as you or I might imagine).

Cobra Lily

Now we come to our first magical plant of the lesson. Cobra lilies, or Solanaceae vipera, are native to Africa, though were brought to Europe and spread to some parts of Asia as well. You can see that its flower is quite complex and, if you’re paying close attention to both its shape and its Latin name, will notice that it is not a true lily (indeed, to further question the plant's naming, its snake-like resemblance is not that of a cobra, either)! This herb is instead part of the nightshade family and grows to a maximum height of one foot. Its single flower is a mottled green like a snake’s skin with a yellow tuft. Its foliage is the same mottled green color all the way down, including the simple oval leaves. As far as care, these annuals must be replanted every year unless they seed themselves. To grow from a seed, be sure to keep it in full sun, to maintain moderately alkaline soil (from 7.9 to 8.5), and not to overwater it. This plant requires good drainage and should only be watered once every few weeks when soil is completely dry, mimicking drought conditions.

Cobra lilies are part of  many traditional African remedies including its flower’s use as a birthing aid and to cure diseases of the immune system. In western potion making, its leaves and roots are prevalent in potions given to people recovering from heart attacks to prevent further issues. Interestingly, this plant is also used in antidotes to some magical creatures’ bites or stings, such as Billywigs and Lobalugs.

Before we talk about this plant’s own poisonous ability, I should mention that it actually falls into two W.H.I.P.S. classes. As a cobra lily actively lashes out and bites to inflict its poison, it is Class B: Physically Aggressive as well as Class C(4). Worryingly, this plant has quite the reach, so be wary of your surroundings and how tall the plant has grown. You would do well to make sure you are not tending it alone, either, as it is very deserving of its level four rating on the toxicity scale. Its poison takes effect in very small doses, so one bite is enough! Depending on various biological factors, it takes thirty minutes to a few hours for the lethal poison to run its course. The Antidote to Uncommon Poisons will slow the spread of the toxin, but will not entirely remove it from the body, so a specific African Antivenom Solution must be applied. If this potion is not taken, the spreading poison will cause dizziness and lightheadedness along with lack of coordination, quickly resulting in unconsciousness and finally followed by the main organs ceasing function (though it’s not always the same organ to go first, as soon as one goes, the others usually follow). As a side note, if the plant has not yet budded, it is safe to be around (and even touch) without gloves. However, consuming it has the same effects.

Because of these considerations, many herbologists apply a sleeping potion to the roots of the plant before harvesting the leaves or the flower. This potion does not usually work on plants, but it seems that the cobra lily is a bit of an outlier and straddles the plant/creature barrier, much like mandrakes. Other tried and tested procedures are to use a Shield Charm when harvesting, stunning the plant, harvesting via spells and combinations of the Levitation Charm and Severing Charm, and to always wear your dragonhide gloves. In fact, for this plant, dragonhide armor might be more appropriate!

Hellebore

In comparison to the other two, hellebore is child’s play. That said, please do not let children play with it! While belladonna was a four, hellebore comes in at only two, while still exhibiting many of the same properties, which makes it a common substitute for its more poisonous cousin. Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, let’s take a closer look at cultivating this evergreen herb.

As is common, hellebore is actually a group of many plants, with Helleborus niger, or black hellebore, as the specific species we will be discussing today. This herb is noted for its long-lasting, attractive flowers that bloom even before the winter is over, pushing their white, purple, or pink tops up through the snow to reach one foot tall. They prefer full to partial shade, drier conditions -- let the soil go dry before watering again -- as well as a soil pH of 7.5 or higher and do not do well at all outside of these conditions.

In terms of uses, there are quite a few, due to its role as a belladonna substitute. It too can be used in small doses in potions to calm, like the Calming Draught and the Draught of Peace as well as the Magical Muscle Relaxant. It also has some positive digestive properties, and it is used in the Stomach Strengthening Solution (which aids those who have suffered from severe stomach acid). It also enjoys popular use in the harmless Hiccough Halting Tonic. The flowers are most commonly used for these purposes, which presents a problem, as young plants often do not produce flowers. The long wait is worth it, though, and makes cultivating these plants a rewarding process both emotionally and fiscally. The root, when powdered, is often an ingredient in expensive invisibility potions, while the seeds and sap are most commonly used in poisons, as they are the most potent. 

If you have been affected by hellebore’s poison, you will know it from a few signs. First, you will experience a burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach. If unlucky, this will then be followed by vomiting, abdominal pain, or general digestive discomfort and could potentially end in death if enough has been consumed. It can also cause symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, and heart palpitations, in extreme cases. As mentioned, the seeds and sap are highly poisonous. Be wary even touching them, as this is hazardous to your health, regardless of whether you have open wounds or not. They will cause burning and damage to the skin and will spread a small amount of poison throughout your body. If it is your intent to gather either the seeds or the sap, be mindful to use the Levitation Charm. In the case of the sap, you must break the plant (the leaves, the stem, etc.) and use the Cleaning Charm, Tergeo, to draw the liquid out. To counteract any burns from this plant, you will want to apply Burn Healing Paste. However, for ingestion and advanced poisoning, the Antidote to Uncommon Poisons will be necessary.

Hemlock

Next up, we have hemlock. As mentioned back in Year One, Conium maculatum is quite often confused with the harmless weed known as Queen Anne’s lace, as both sport similar umbrella-like bunches of white flowers against a background of green leaves. The main visual distinction, as you can see, is the fact that hemlock’s stem is dotted with purple spots and is smooth instead of hairy. It was originally native to Europe and northern parts of Africa but has been naturalized in Asia and North America as well.

This herb is also one of the few that we have covered that is biennial. It starts out its first year of life as a small rosette of a flower, and then in its second year, opens further and grows taller, reaching a maximum of ten feet (three metres) before dying. To reach this maximum height, it must grow under ideal conditions, which include a rather alkaline soil pH of roughly 8.0 to 8.5, an area where it gets full to partial sun, and soil that is kept constantly moist. 

Obviously, the plant can be used in poisons, as it has a W.H.I.P.S. score of three, but that’s not all it does. It has some other useful combinations in potions, too. Its fresh flowers are used in small doses in potions to ease anxiety and mania, while its leaves can be used in making the Chilling Concoction, which is a refreshing way to combat hot summer days. 

Now, a word about this plant’s specific dangers. Like many of the plants we’ve discussed, the most concentrated form of poison is in this plant’s roots, seeds, and the youngest shoots in the first year of growth. Poison hemlock, as well as the four types of water hemlock, is very fast-acting and only requires small amounts to be lethal. This poison’s main punch comes in the form of paralysis, which works its way up the body, sometimes taking as little as one or two hours. The final blow comes when it reaches the lungs and causes them to freeze, essentially suffocating the individual. Therefore, there are two ways to combat this kind of poison. First, poison hemlock can be counteracted with the Antidote to Common Poisons, and secondly, the advanced paralysis can be halted and reversed with anti-paralysis potions. Also, technically speaking, if one were able to artificially provide air to the individual, you could wait until the paralysis wore off, but this would take two to three days and is difficult to maintain without error (and significantly more difficult than simply buying or brewing one of the antidotes). Simply brushing up against this plant is not enough to put its poison into effect, but be wary of extended contact with it, and be sure to transport it with gloved hands. This should not be too much of a concern, as all of you should be used to wearing your dragonhide gloves at all times in these greenhouses.

Lungbane

The last plant on our list is Lungbane. It grows natively in Australia, particularly inland in the bush (the harsh, less frequently visited areas of the continent), which is fortunate for the preservation of the International Statute of Secrecy, as this plant packs quite the punch. It is a creeping vine that grows as long as it is allowed, though it usually tapers off after fifty feet. It sports heart-shaped green foliage and has striking flowers, though not in the typical way that pretty flowers are striking. Instead, the plant’s flowers look distinctly like human organs, particularly when still only buds that have not yet bloomed. In addition, the flowers lazily empty and fill with air which makes them shrink and expand as if they were calmly breathing, though there is no known reason for this behavior. As far as care, this perennial herb does not require much in the harsh environment of the outback, but does need full sun and warm temperatures. Other than that, a soil that is generally on the acidic side of the spectrum and watering occasionally will allow Lungbane to thrive, though the more water you give it, the larger and lusher it will be. 

Its uses are specific, but quite interesting. The dangling reddish brown flowers of Aristolochia afflatus are used in cough concoctions and are most potent when open and blooming. The leaves, on the other hand, which must be picked when the flowers have not yet blossomed that year, are the main ingredient in voice-changing potions including the Operetta Elixir. 

If you accidentally come into contact with the plant, you have very limited time to take the antidote, though the specific time frame varies from person to person. No symptoms present themselves up until the time of death when the lungs completely cease functioning. For this reason, herbologists choose to wear dragonhide gloves at all times when handling the plant and take the antidote immediately even if they are not sure they were poisoned. It’s better to be safe than suffocating! Don’t be alarmed by these plants, though. The buds are not aggressive and are quite content to leave you alone, simply breathing in and out on their stems. In the past, the poison of this plant was treated with the Antidote to Uncommon Poisons, but it left the victim with irregular breathing patterns in which they were unable to breathe (briefly) at random intervals, indicating the poison was not entirely purged from the system. It wasn’t until 1965 when the Jahari Restorative, a complete antidote named after its creator, was perfected.

Harvesting, repotting, watering, or pruning this plant can all be done manually with no additional precautions other than dragonhide gloves, but be sure not to ingest or touch the plant with your bare skin! It does, unfortunately, often suffer from common blights which spot its leaves. However, Beauregard’s Blight-Be-Gone and simple pruning of affected parts should do the trick.

Closing

I see some of you are looking a bit pale. You haven’t touched anything questionable, have you? Ah, just a bit woozy from worrying. A bit of sunlight and a sit down will do you good. Take a moment to leave these greenhouses and sit out on the grounds for a while before you come back for your practical assignment. I’m sure you’ll be right as rain in no time -- and if not, I have just the stock of potions to help! Once you are done with your practical assignment, you can leave any borrowed masks behind with me, and I will see you next week in Greenhouse Seven. In the meantime, you have quite the assortment of extra credit options in addition to your usual homework, including a chance to brew one of the most important antidotes in my collection, a look at various plants and what levels on the toxicity scale they are, and a revision assignment centering on the content covered in Year Two.

Original lesson written by Professor Venita Wessex

Additional portions written by Professor Lily Tudor

Image credits here, here, here, here, here, and here