HERB-501 Lessons

Year Five, Lesson Seven
Preview of Dangerous and Difficult Plants

Introduction

Hello, students! I trust those of you brave enough to try the second part of the practice O.W.L. were met with good results. We have just a few more lessons until the real thing! Today, we will be covering another of the six W.H.I.P.S. classes of plants after our brief break from them. While we have most often discussed plants in the context of what they can heal, there is a specific subsection of plants that can make us sick. No, I don’t mean poison us; I mean actually infect us with illnesses that, in some cases, can be transmitted to others. We have saplings that sneeze on you, plants that give you the pox, and roots that cause a rumbling in your stomach. Isn’t magic grand?

Pestilent Precautions

Before we enter Greenhouse Five, be sure to take a charmed mask and a pair of goggles that you may remember from earlier this year. You don’t want to inhale what’s in there, I promise! You notice I will be performing the Bubble-Head Charm on myself as an alternative, which is a valid option for you as well once you learn it in Charms next week! But rest assured the masks work just as well. 

Other than the normal precautions of not touching plants (and making sure you wash your hands after being in the same greenhouse with them), a fully covered cranium via the Bubble-Head Charm or bespelled mask is the best defense. Of course, there are some specific considerations that apply to each plant, but we’ll get to those shortly. With your masks in place and your dragonhide gloves on, let’s venture boldly in!

Different Diseases

Before we begin, Class D: Infectious Plants fall into a few different sub-categories. They are rather simple, for a change. There are plants that give other plants, creatures, non-human beings¹ and humans illnesses. We will, as you have likely come to expect, be covering at least one of each type. However, there will be particular emphasis on plants that can get you or your classmates ill, as those are the most likely to affect you over the course of your life.

Plants vs. Humans

Given all the deadly and dastardly plants we’ve covered so far, flowers that give you the common cold or chills may seem tame in comparison. However, even the tamest of these can be fatal in the right (or wrong) situations. Demographics that are very susceptible to disease, such as the very young, the very elderly, or those who have compromised immune systems can find themselves fighting for their lives against things as small as a cold. Additionally, even those that don’t fall into those categories can be very negatively affected by simple symptoms if they are not taken seriously. Be sure to take proper care of yourselves, students! A cold is nothing to sneeze at.

These plants have illness-causing properties for a multitude of reasons. On occasion, the plant actually reproduces through the act of infecting you (your illness either spreads spores or some other byproduct), but usually their disease-causing properties are defenses that have developed over many generations to prevent them from being overused or overharvested. There are situations where these illness-causing properties have developed for other reasons (particularly in the case of genetic engineering or magically created hybrids) as well.

Coughagus Ivy (Hedera gravedo)

Type(s) - herb, vine.
Sunlight - partial shade to full sun.
Height range(s) - 20 feet.                                                
Flower colour(s) - N/A                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - vivid green and white.
pH - 4.5 to 9.0.
Water - do not let soil dry out.
Features - Class D: Infectious.

First on our list of plants that pester humans is Coughagus Ivy, otherwise known by its Latin name, Hedera gravedo. Native to the Mediterranean, this plant is often confused with other species of ivy by novice herbologists. To tell it apart from your regular ivy, just look for the distinctive faded edges that make the plant look a bit “washed out.” To discern it from Creeping Ivy, simply double check that it’s not trying to sneak off of your roof to the sunny backyard area that looks more appealing. 

Now, onto this plant’s particular form of pestilence. As you might have guessed, Coughagus Ivy gives humans a slight cold, typically accompanied by cough, an excess of phlegm, and sneezing. In more severe cases, whether among high-risk groups or due to repeated exposure, the cold may become quite worse and cause dizziness and fever due to sinus impaction. However, the good news is that the cold will run its course as normal and respond very well to the Pepperup Potion - though it’s certainly not a potion you want to be overusing. There is some evidence to suggest that additional strains of the plant are developing, which cause colds in other species, though we’re not sure exactly how this benefits the species. Simple skin-to-skin contact is the preferred method of contagion for this plant, so avoid this at all costs!

This species is fairly harmless in terms of symptoms and illnesses, but I think we can all agree that the common cold is still a bit of a bother, particularly when you consider that this plant does not have an excess of uses. It does not flower, so only the roots and the foliage are used in the wizarding world. The leaves are used in the niche Mining Mixture, and the roots enjoy use in sneezing serums and coughing cordials.

Othross (Tacca integrimagia)

Type(s) - herb, perennial.
Sunlight - full shade.
Height range(s) - 3 feet.                                                
Flower colour(s) - black.                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - vivid green.
pH - 5.1 to 5.5.
Water - do not let soil dry out.
Features - Class D: Infectious, evergreen.

Next up we have a slightly more sinister-looking plant, Othross. This plant grows natively all over Asia (so long as the temperatures are warm enough) and is completely benign to all Muggles there, to the point that the Asian ministries have largely given up trying to hide it. This is because the plant is naturally very magic-resistant, meaning an average Disillusionment Charm lasts roughly half the normal length of time. It was found that concealing the plant required a fair bit of extra work and put more folks in a position to be infected than was worth it.

The plant is problematic as it causes symptoms that mimic magical exhaustion. As you will remember from your First Year, pushing yourself too hard and casting too many spells too quickly can cause magical exhaustion. Worse, if you do not care for yourself properly when suffering from magical exhaustion (namely avoiding the use of magic), you can lose your magical ability altogether or even die, not to mention the undesirable explosions of uncontrolled magic it causes. However, magical exhaustion brought on by Othross is often worse, as the plant somehow brings it on much faster than you would normally anticipate. What might be your normal day of spellcasting might suddenly wear you out for no good reason. As this is quite frustrating, and goes against what we know our “cap” for magical energy is, the witch or wizard often pushes past the normal warning signs of tiredness, causing worse problems for themselves. 

To be clear, this plant doesn’t technically drain our energy, but instead serves to create a metaphorical constriction. You can think of it in very simple (though not entirely academically accurate) terms like your stomach. If someone folded your stomach in half, you’d get full twice as quick, even though you’re not suddenly eating more. A similar thing happens with Othross. It roughly halves your available magical energy, not by draining it, but by blocking it and making it inaccessible. This is typically done via inhaling the plant’s pollen (though it can enter via other mucus membranes) and therefore a mask and goggles are all the safety equipment needed.

What do you get in return for all your caution? Quite a lot, actually. The most notable potion that requires Othross (in which it is one of the primary ingredients) is the Bewitchment Booster, which works the opposite to the way the plant works alone. When the flowers are plucked and brewed properly, they are able to temporarily increase your available magical energy before exhaustion sets in. This does not, as many people are disappointed to discover, increase your magical ability, knowledge, or the strength of your spells. However, it still enjoys popular use in magical contests, as the potion is not outlawed in most ministries. Of slightly lesser popularity are the leaves’ use in potions to eradicate pesky under-eye bags, making you look just as fresh and rested as you feel.

Vomitous Vine (Alocasia vomitus)

Type(s) - herb, vine.
Sunlight - partial to full shade.
Height range(s) - 3 feet.                                                
Flower colour(s) - N/A.                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - vivid green, pink.
pH - 5.6 to 6.5.
Water - allow soil to dry between watering.
Features - Class D: Infectious.

Our next stop is to visit the waxy pink corner of the greenhouse that houses my prized Vomitous Vines. While they are rather fascinating to look at, make sure you don’t touch them! I assure you, the results are not worth satisfying your curiosity. Native to Southern Asia, they line the forest floor from roughly ankle height to midway up your torso, which is the perfect range for running into or rubbing up against. Yes, as you can probably guess, physical contact causes the unwary victim immediate nausea and nearly always intermittent vomiting for the rest of the week. There is no need to worry about having been poisoned (which is often a relief for someone who has just finished exploring a tropical rainforest and begun to vomit), but repeated exposure puts one at risk for weakness and fatigue. Additionally, prolonged contact may also bring on malnutrition -- as it is nearly impossible to keep anything down -- or dehydration. 

Another alleged ingredient in the formula for the famous Skiving Snackboxes, this plant certainly fits the bill and is used in numerous potions to cause nausea or vomiting. However, that is not all it can do. The whole plant, particularly the seeds, are excellent in preternatural vitamins², strangely enough. You’d have to ask a certified healer as to how this works exactly, but many a witch and wizard swear by them. The seeds are also utilized in various repellents and have been ground into a powder to be dissolved in an unknowing victim’s mug of Butterbeer.

Pink-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia iris)

Type(s) - herb, perennial.
Sunlight - full sun.
Height range(s) - 5 feet.                                                
Flower colour(s) - pink.                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - vivid green.
pH - 6.6 to 8.5.
Water - do not overwater, water when soil is barely moist.
Features - Class D: Infectious.

Native to northeastern North America, specifically the lower parts of Canada and the upper parts of the United States, the Pink-eyed Susan is another pollination problem. When this bloom is in season, Bubble-Head Charms are all the rage - unless you want your eyes to go as pink as these petals. 

These shockingly pink blossoms cause conjunctivitis if you get its pollen in your eyes. As mentioned, this is really only a problem when they are in bloom, however, as they bloom for a rather long window -- between June and October -- it can be quite a pain. If afflicted with pink eye, it’s a simple matter to purchase or brew some Edrick’s Eye Tonic to drop gently into the eyes. However, it can be a full 24 hours before you notice symptoms, and if you’re not careful, you may end up spreading it to your coworkers, classmates, or family, which can be a bother and increase the risk of re-infection. 

For your troubles, the Pink-eyed Susan has a wide array of uses. The flower petals are used in various brands of color-changing eye drops as well as the Blushing Beverage. The leaves, on the other hand, are more often used in Insom’s Ale, an interesting halfway point between alcoholic beverage and potion, which is often used as a sleeping aid. Finally, the “spines” in the center of the plant have permeability properties and are used in potions to cause solid objects to absorb liquids, usually another potion.

Poorly Plants

With a whole host of plants that are unhealthy for humans covered, it’s now time to turn our attention to plants that prey upon others of their own kingdom. Frequently, this is done to “weed out” the competition, so that they have more access to soil nutrients, sun, or water. However, as always, there is the possibility of strange accidental cross pollination.

Sopwort (Haworthia computresco)

Type(s) - herb, annual.
Sunlight - full shade.
Height range(s) - 3 inches.                                                
Flower colour(s) - N/A.                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - blue.
pH - 4.5 to 9.0.
Water - do not let soil dry out, keep it very boggy.
Features - Class D: Infectious.

This blue crystalline beauty is endemic to southern Africa and is actually quite soft to the touch. In fact, the plant is not made up of rock or crystal, as it first appears, but instead of normal plant cells. The difference is that the plant’s outer layer is nearly transparent, allowing passersby to see directly through it. These leaves are actually reservoirs for water, but not nearly as useful as the Aquagius Root, since the plant has a clearly defined limit to how much water it can store. Still, if you are dying of thirst, popping one into your mouth will stave off the inevitable. Please ensure that you clean it off first, though!

Now, this wet plant’s party piece is that it spreads root rot to anything nearby through its root system. Technically, some water plants can survive contact, but most plants immediately contract the disease and begin an imminent downward spiral. Normal methods to save a plant from root rot may be successful, but it’s always better to be proactive than reactive. For this reason, many herbologists keep this plant under a Containment Charm or in pots so as not to allow its contact with other plants.

Sopwort’s roots are used in hydration potions of varying complexity, use, and longevity, and once properly drained of water, the leaves are used as a main ingredient in the Translucent Tonic. Additionally, after recent experimentation and discovery, the leaves are also included as an additive to increase the effectiveness of the X-Ray Solution.

Fire Fern (Dryopteris oxidatio)

Type(s) - herb, perennial.
Sunlight - partial to full shade.
Height range(s) - 2 feet.                                                
Flower colour(s) - N/A.                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - orange.
pH - 7.0 to 9.0.
Water -  moderate, water when dry, good drainage.
Features - Class D: Infectious.

First, let me start off by saying this is not a fire plant, though given the name this is a common misconception, especially due to the existence of the similar -- and actually aflame -- Flame Fern. This particular species is native to the far east of Asia, and is specifically clustered in China, Korea, and the Philippines. 

The plant-borne disease that the Fire Fern causes also has a commonly-confused cousin. You will hopefully remember our discussion of Bubotuber Blight from your Second Year. Yes, the one with the pulsing yellow pustules. In any case, the plant that this disease inflicts, Rustroot, creates similar spots all over the afflicted plants. As you can see from this specimen, the spots are clearly a more orange color, much like the plant -- and the disease's namesake. However, in poor lighting, or from a distance, the two can be confused. Add to that the similarity of bumpy, textured pustules, and it’s no wonder the two are often misidentified. As a note, depending on the plant and the degree of infection, Rustroot may not actually make pustules and instead simply manifest in a discoloration of the leaf that eventually gets more and more textured as the disease enters its final stages. If you diagnose your plant in time, it’s a simple matter of pruning the affected portions (as it does not affect the roots or the whole plant as the name implies). However, if the disease has progressed to the point of “lumpy and bumpy,” you may not be able to save the plant simply due to the strain it causes. Even pruning the diseased portions will leave you with a severely weakened plant. 

Fire Ferns only actually transmit this disease when dying, and this spread of disease is used as a mechanism to clear a spot for the new generation of Fire Ferns to come. Interestingly, if any plant is allowed to die naturally of Rustroot (instead of pruned and disposed of), it can also, in turn, spread the disease to yet more plants. To prevent this, witches and wizards who are accomplished with any variation of the Shielding Charm will erect a barrier around the plant as it withers away to avoid this issue. 

Fire Ferns are utilized in a number of potions, none of which have anything to do with either fire or rust. Instead, the fronds of this Asian plant are utilized in Illiteracy Ink as well as in the Itching Concoction. Finally, many local witches and wizards also swear by its inclusion in salads, though it is admittedly a taste I have never been able to acquire.

Foes of Fauna

In most cases, unlike the plants that get other plants sick, these plants only get a specific species (or similar group) of creature ill. So the Rotfang plant can only infect vampires, and Brittleweed is only problematic for Grindylows. Creatures with similar genetic structures may also be affected as a group. For example, there may be a plant that affects all magical birds or all magical reptiles. In these cases, the disease cannot be transmitted from the infected creature to creatures of another species, including humans, so these plants (and their victims) are safe for us to be around. 

Much like the plants we covered first, whose diseases attack humans, these plants’ effects are usually borne of self-defense (against being eaten or used) or to further propagate their own species. On occasion, accidental hybrids, or plants created in captivity, end up with illness-related side effects as well. 

Wrigglewort (Hypericum vermis)

Type(s) - herb, annual.
Sunlight - full sun.
Height range(s) - 3 feet.                                                
Flower colour(s) - yellow.                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - vivid green.
pH - 4.5 to 6.0.
Water -  moderate, water when dry.
Features - Class D: Infectious.

This next plant can be a bit jarring for the faint of heart, but we will not be splitting open or dissecting any Wrigberries today, so you should all be fine. Wrigglewort, actually distantly related to St. John’s wort, grows native to the northern parts of Europe, including areas like France, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. The salmon-coloured berries that appear in June give way to yellow flowers if allowed to grow to maturity.

However, it is those same pretty pink berries that are the problem, and what gives the plant its name. Inside those berries, along with the seeds, are dozens of tiny parasites, just big enough to see with your eye. As these berries are edible, when eaten, the parasites take up residence in an animal’s stomach and intestines. The reason for this is twofold. Firstly, it deters animals from eating the berries (which will eventually turn into flowers that continue the plant’s existence), and it also serves to spread the seeds to new areas, as the parasites secrete an enzyme to keep the seeds viable as they are passed through the system, and therefore may still propagate a new specimen upon leaving the animal. This plant mainly affects magical birds, as the berries are tempting treats for them, but they are also consumed by gnomes and, on occasion, even the odd Graphorn. Technically speaking, this plant could also affect humans, though that would actually require one to eat a Wrigberry, which is unlikely. To our palates, these bitter berries taste horrible, and we could have steak and kidney pie instead. 

The flowers, leaves, roots, and, in fact, any other part of the plant are not dangerous at all and can be safely consumed and put in potions. The berries can also be used for various purposes, however, they should never be used in preparations that do not employ heat, as the act of brewing the potion is what kills off the parasites and renders them harmless. Speaking of which, the berries are used in the lesser-known evil twin of truth elixirs, Mendaserum, as well as the Mead of Mistrust. The flowers and leaves are not as important to potion making, but have found some use in flavoring wines or cordials and in Scar Striking Sip, respectively.

Centaur Crave (Monstera deliciosa)

Type(s) - herb, vine.
Sunlight - partial shade.
Height range(s) - 32 feet.                                                
Flower colour(s) - cream, purple.                                                         
Foliage colour(s) - vivid green.
pH - 5.5 to 7.5.
Water -  when the top of the soil gets dry.
Features - Class C: Toxic, Class D: Infectious.

Because of this plant’s importance to another creature of significant development and intelligence, it’s important to note what they call it. Truthfully, because of centaurs' advanced knowledge of herbology, they often have their own names for plants, which is an interesting study in and of itself. In any case, our centaur friends call this plant Void Vine or Eat-Not, and among witches and wizards, it is also called Centaur’s Lace. But enough about naming, what does this plant do, exactly?

If the names were not enough of a clue, the basic premise of this plant is that it causes malnutrition and/or starvation, depending on how long the plant is consumed. This may leave you scratching your head as to how that works, but in fact, malnutrition and starvation are merely the symptoms of the true illness that Centaur Lace causes. Rather, it acts as a highly addictive drug. It causes intense craving and dependence on the plant to the exclusion of normal, actually nutritious, food sources. In addition, it also causes general disorientation, which typically serves to keep the centaur from simply understanding what is wrong and exerting self-control to break the cycle. In the final stages of addiction, centaurs will waste away and be unable to move, typically meeting their end due to the enticing need to be close to the plant. Consequently, the plant takes advantage of the centaur’s corpse, providing it with an extra boost of nutrients. Interestingly, centaurs do not have to directly consume the plant to become addicted. This is a common enough plant consumed by lower-order woodland mammals that the centaurs then hunt and consume. In this way, they can be secondarily infected or addicted. Addiction can be stopped and the effects reversed, but as those afflicted usually employ secrecy and any means necessary to seek out the plant, this is not always as easy as it sounds. Even if successful, the withdrawal period is said to be quite unpleasant.

Lesser magical equines do seem to exhibit some of these same symptoms of addiction, in that if Centaur Crave is on their grazing land, they will seek it out instead of other plants. However, if it is weeded out and removed from their diet, they will not experience withdrawal symptoms like the centaurs. It appears that bovines are resistant to this plant entirely, though some evidence shows that a related species may exist. 

For all these problems, why continue to grow it? Well, simply put, it does not affect us (or very many species at all outside of centaurs). Additionally, it is used in multiple handy brews, such as some of the more popular (but still dangerous) weight-loss potions, Dragon Milk³, and some darker, slow-acting poisons.

Closing

Quite the array of alarming afflictions, no? As I mentioned, next week we will be back to Greenhouse Five one last time this year, and you will have the opportunity to practice your newfound ability with the Bubble-Head Charm. Until then, I do have an assortment of assignments for you, including not only your quiz and practical assignment, but an extra credit opportunity to review a handful of plants we covered all the way back in your first and second years. Best of luck!

Footnotes

1. As you might imagine, having both beings and beasts in the same category is a little contentious, but as the current Ministry classifications for beasts vs. beings is not entirely accurate, making two separate sections -- one for beasts and one for non-human beings, starts to feel a little silly when the beings category includes hags but not centaurs. So, for the moment, they remain lumped together in this manner.

2. These vitamins are prescribed to pregnant women as part of their health care program while they are expecting.

3. Which, naturally, is not made of (or for) dragons and is not milk. Instead, it is a potion that instantly returns one to sobriety, causing all alcohol consumed to be expelled in a fiery burp.

Original lesson written by Professor Venita Wessex

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