Lesson Eight

Challenges in Herbology 

Lesson Objectives

•  To give students a basic understanding of the issues Herbologists incur
•  For students to comprehend the significance of The Gardening Effect in the work of Herbologists
•  For students to develop feelings, opinions, and thoughts about the meaning of Herbology in their own lives

The Gardening Effect: This is deemed so as if is the action of simplifying the understanding of plants and the work of Herbologists. Before the statue of Secrecy, Herbologists played active roles in both muggle and magical communities. However, since then, the respect and admiration as one down. The first problem this has on Herbologists is funding. This limits research and the further understanding of plants and their attributes. Another is the loss of candidates to "more respectable" fields. Those who focus on Herbology often turn to potions or healing with their knowledge, rather than remaining directly in the field.

Alien Species: Herbologists face another major challenge when getting involved with field work: alien species (especially plants). These are non-indigenous, introduced, exotic, and invasive species. These plants have effects on animals, other plants, and the ecosystem as a whole. 

How invasion works:

1. The seed/plant propagates into new territory

2. The plant adapts to the new environment

3. The plant "takes over" the environment, growing in numbers that may be beyond what the ecosystem can handle (some plants are able to adapt, grow wild in the habitat, and not overextend itself). Alien Species have many hazards, including water quantities.