Lesson Seven

Non-magical plants 

Learning Objectives

• To show students the versatility and usefulness of non-magical plants, thereby increasing respect for them
• For students to be able to recognize a rose or lily by description
• For students to be able to recognize situations in which one might utilize a non magical plant.

Non-magical plants are also known as mundane, are less temperamental, and does not cause explosions, heat changes and other dangerous mishaps to occur during potioneering. 

Lily Plants (Lilium): These plants are recognized for their flowers, and come in several colours, including blue, orange, pink, purple and white, as well as yellow. In order to plant a lily you need a bulb, planted 1/4 inch into the ground in nutrient rich soil, and have partial to full access to sun (5-6 hours of full sunlight is optimal). Regular water suits this plant just fine. The stem of the Lilium is green, red or purple, and sturdy, growing from a foot to ten feet. Lilies attract birds and are poisonous to cats and Kneazles. They are a high source of fibre when dried, and helps with heart conditions. Lilies especially interact well with magic, as bulbs can be stimulated by magic to grow. Their flowers are excellent when it comes to treating burns and preventing scar tissue. Spider bites may also be treated. In the form of tea, lily plants are used in the treatment of the following conditions and symptoms: coughs and fevers, stomach disorders, wounds, sores, and for washing swollen bruised areas, and The flower of a lily plant is often an ingredient in anti-depressant potions. 

English Rose (Rosa): The English rose, like the lily, grows in partial to full sunlight and is classified as a shrub. They grow from one to twenty feet tall and may grow from two to four feet wide, which depends on the variety that you obtain. The rose flower may be blue, green, orange, pink, red, or white. They require an pH range of 5.5-7.0 Acidious revealious" (ah-sid-EE-us rev-EE-lee-us) will reveal to you, in the form of white mist, the number of the pH level your soil is. Rose plants need lots of water, and during hot seasons, soak the roots twice a week. Rose oil is costly, and only pure rose oil can be used for medicinal purposes.  Rose plants can be used for: 

1. Eye diseases/ (as a tea) and to treat cataracts (from skin of the roots)

2. Burns

3. influenza

4. Stomach problems / as a digestive stimulant

5. Diarrhea

6. Chronic finger sores

7. Snow blindness (with an eyewash using petals, stem bark, and skin of the roots)

8. Astringent/ for skin lotions

9. Sore throats

10. Treats rabid dog bites

11. To stop nosebleeds

12. To ease muscular pain/ antispasmodic

13. Antidepressant /ease depression and anxiety

14. Used in love potions

15. Can decrease kidney stones

16. Menstrual regulator (may be mixed with motherwort for cases of heavy flow too)

17. Helps with kidneys

18. Cleansing properties

19. Anti-inflammatory

20. Source of vitamin C

21. Seeds are diuretic

22. Seeds are a laxative

23. Potions with dried petals treat headaches

24. Soaking a cloth in cool rose water may be applied to the forehead to help treat headaches

25. Scent in potions may relieve colic (muggles may use Rosehip tincture)

26. Eases a cough

27. May be used to treat dry skin

28. May be used in a potion to relieve itching for women

29. Combining Rose water with witch hazel makes a potion to help clear up skin with pimples/acne

30. Adding rose oil to bath water helps ease grief, and sometimes insomnia as well

31. Rose tea helps relieve stress

32. Has been used to prevent scurvy by consumption

33. Eases colds

34. Eases fevers

35. Decreases swelling of puffy skin by compressing with rose water

36. Scent in some potions may induce sleep

37. Can help regulate blood thickness

38. Rose oil is known to be antiviral

39.  Rose oil is known to be antibacterial

40. Rose oil and rose water are known to be Antiseptic