Herbology Notes Year 1
written by elena lovett
Herbology notes for year one
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
8
Reads
1,030
Lesson 6
Chapter 4
SILVERWEED
A quickly propagating perennial herb, this well-named plant certainly spreads like a weed.
It grows easily in most parts of the world, particularly temperate areas.
Potentilla anserina, also called Argentina anserina, is green on the top and silvery on the underside of the leaves, due to the very fine whitish hairs that grow there, hence the plant’s name.
CARE
Starting in the early summer, each plant will produce a single, yellow flower that grows on a stalk that can reach anywhere from six to twelve inches.silverweed is not terribly picky and will grow well with little encouragement. However, for best results, plant in soil that is very mildly alkaline, or just a bit over 7 on the pH scale.
The amount of sun does not impact this plant’s growth much just so long as you do not plant it in full shade.
-It will grow much more quickly with more sunlight.
You can water this plant frequently and do not need to worry much about overwatering.
When harvesting, be sure to wait to gather the herb when the weather is dry; a rainy day or a dewy morning will coat the leaves with additional moisture which will impede the drying process.
To properly dry a plant, both Muggles and magical folk alike prepare their plants by hand, gathering and hanging in dry, often heated areas.
USES
It is commonly used in potions.
It is only used in its dried form and is often ground up into a powder.
The herb can be used to great effect in
-Sore-Removing Serums
-potions to ease various cramps.
Until very recently, there had been no recorded use for the seasonal yellow flowers that appear in the summer. However, some current research shows a possibility that these blooms could be used in blemish-removing potions, Finally, while not a particularly magical use, this plant is edible and is often a staple in the diets of grazing livestock of all kinds.
NETTLE
The leaves and stem of the leafy green nettle are covered in tiny, stinging hairs that pack quite a nasty punch for their small size.
While some variations of nettles are hairless, we will be focusing on the stinging varieties today, as they are what give the plant many of its properties and combine well with magic.
This plant is most commonly found in Northern Europe and Asia, though is also present in Southern Europe, South Africa, and Australia.
Urtica dioica grows voraciously and can reach between three and seven feet in height.
CARE
This perennial herb much prefers moist soil, so watering frequently will give you the best results.
Additionally, while the nettle will do well in neutral soil, slightly alkaline soil (ranging between roughly 7.1 to 7.8) will improve the plant’s ultimate height, health, and rate of growth.
For sun, anything between full sun and partial shade should be adequate.
Interestingly, the freshness of the plant is one of the factors that determines its uses and properties.
-If gathering nettle to be dried, it is best to do so in the early summer (between May and June) before the plant puts out its flowers (whose appearance varies by subspecies of nettle, though this particular species produces yellow ones).
USES
Magic acts particularly well with nettles, though the results and properties that come from this plant vary widely.
The plant itself is used most frequently in potions, though occasionally its vivid yellow roots are utilized as well.
Fresh nettles are used as an ingredient in the Cure for Boils
Dried nettles are used in the Herbicide Potion.
Other uses of the leaf and stem of the nettle include various nettle-based beverages, such as wine and tea
The roots find use in the rather obscure Curdling Concoction,
This plant has been used historically for healing uses including the Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm (actually a potion recipe that was paired with a spoken incantation for maximum efficacy).
-It was recorded in the 10th century as part of the Lacnunga Manuscript
MOTHERWORT
Leonurus cardiaca, a relative of the mint family.
It usually reaches between two and three feet when fully grown and has hardy root networks.
Unlike nettles, this perennial herb is native to the southerly regions of Europe and Asia. It was also introduced to North America, and it was only a matter of time before it spread widely.
Motherwort is actually quite aggressive, and it will spread throughout your entire plot.
CARE
It is happy in shade or sun, wet or dry conditions
Any pH level of soil, as non-ideal levels are only a mild deterrent. Some actually choose to grow their motherwort in less-than-ideal conditions in order to keep its growth under control.
However, should you wish to grow motherwort in perfect circumstances, slightly alkaline soil (from 7.4 to 7.8) is your best bet.
Should you ever need to remove it, the entire plant must be pulled up by the roots, as simply chopping it off at the base will only delay its progress.
USES
the overall herb, and especially its pink or purple flowers, are used in potions to aid with and spur childbirth, and is safe to use in the late stages of pregnancy as well as during breastfeeding.
it has some uses as a substitute in potions for heart-related issues stemming from anxiety and heart disease.
It also has use in dubiously antiquated and complex (though proven effective) remedies for hydrophobia, also known as rabies.
The roots have no purported uses.
FLUXWEED
Also called flixweed or tansy mustard, or Descurainia sophia, this plant is in fact a member of the mustard family.
The annual’s green stems are topped with yellow flowers in the summer, specifically July and August.
Originally, this plant was native to Western Asia, but spread across that landmass to the rest of Asia and parts of Europe.
-It can be cultivated in greenhouses worldwide.
CARE
Descurainia sophia grows roughly between ten and thirty inches tall and prefers full sun.
Don’t water too frequently, as this plant likes dry conditions; wait until the soil is completely dry to the touch to water. As long as the soil is arable -- meaning it has a pH that is suitable for plant growth in general, which is between 4.5 and 9 -- this annual herb should do just fine.
-There are no specific pH requirements.
USES
Its properties range widely, aiding in everything from transformations, such as
-Polyjuice Potion,
-potions for dysentery
-diarrhea.
Transformation is thought to be the primary use, while its other uses are more secondary.
If the whole plant is used in a potion, it is typically used fresh for higher potency, though there is something to be said for the use of its dried flowers in completely separate preparations than those mentioned above, such as Bottled Butterflies in the Stomach.
Its seeds can also be used, dried or raw, in the Thirst-Quenching Quaff.
DEHUMIDIFYING SPELL
INCANTATION: arfacua
PRONUNCIATION: AR-fah-COO-ah
WAND MOVEMENT: tap the object
CONCENTRATION: low to high
WILLPOWER: low
A quickly propagating perennial herb, this well-named plant certainly spreads like a weed.
It grows easily in most parts of the world, particularly temperate areas.
Potentilla anserina, also called Argentina anserina, is green on the top and silvery on the underside of the leaves, due to the very fine whitish hairs that grow there, hence the plant’s name.
CARE
Starting in the early summer, each plant will produce a single, yellow flower that grows on a stalk that can reach anywhere from six to twelve inches.silverweed is not terribly picky and will grow well with little encouragement. However, for best results, plant in soil that is very mildly alkaline, or just a bit over 7 on the pH scale.
The amount of sun does not impact this plant’s growth much just so long as you do not plant it in full shade.
-It will grow much more quickly with more sunlight.
You can water this plant frequently and do not need to worry much about overwatering.
When harvesting, be sure to wait to gather the herb when the weather is dry; a rainy day or a dewy morning will coat the leaves with additional moisture which will impede the drying process.
To properly dry a plant, both Muggles and magical folk alike prepare their plants by hand, gathering and hanging in dry, often heated areas.
USES
It is commonly used in potions.
It is only used in its dried form and is often ground up into a powder.
The herb can be used to great effect in
-Sore-Removing Serums
-potions to ease various cramps.
Until very recently, there had been no recorded use for the seasonal yellow flowers that appear in the summer. However, some current research shows a possibility that these blooms could be used in blemish-removing potions, Finally, while not a particularly magical use, this plant is edible and is often a staple in the diets of grazing livestock of all kinds.
NETTLE
The leaves and stem of the leafy green nettle are covered in tiny, stinging hairs that pack quite a nasty punch for their small size.
While some variations of nettles are hairless, we will be focusing on the stinging varieties today, as they are what give the plant many of its properties and combine well with magic.
This plant is most commonly found in Northern Europe and Asia, though is also present in Southern Europe, South Africa, and Australia.
Urtica dioica grows voraciously and can reach between three and seven feet in height.
CARE
This perennial herb much prefers moist soil, so watering frequently will give you the best results.
Additionally, while the nettle will do well in neutral soil, slightly alkaline soil (ranging between roughly 7.1 to 7.8) will improve the plant’s ultimate height, health, and rate of growth.
For sun, anything between full sun and partial shade should be adequate.
Interestingly, the freshness of the plant is one of the factors that determines its uses and properties.
-If gathering nettle to be dried, it is best to do so in the early summer (between May and June) before the plant puts out its flowers (whose appearance varies by subspecies of nettle, though this particular species produces yellow ones).
USES
Magic acts particularly well with nettles, though the results and properties that come from this plant vary widely.
The plant itself is used most frequently in potions, though occasionally its vivid yellow roots are utilized as well.
Fresh nettles are used as an ingredient in the Cure for Boils
Dried nettles are used in the Herbicide Potion.
Other uses of the leaf and stem of the nettle include various nettle-based beverages, such as wine and tea
The roots find use in the rather obscure Curdling Concoction,
This plant has been used historically for healing uses including the Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm (actually a potion recipe that was paired with a spoken incantation for maximum efficacy).
-It was recorded in the 10th century as part of the Lacnunga Manuscript
MOTHERWORT
Leonurus cardiaca, a relative of the mint family.
It usually reaches between two and three feet when fully grown and has hardy root networks.
Unlike nettles, this perennial herb is native to the southerly regions of Europe and Asia. It was also introduced to North America, and it was only a matter of time before it spread widely.
Motherwort is actually quite aggressive, and it will spread throughout your entire plot.
CARE
It is happy in shade or sun, wet or dry conditions
Any pH level of soil, as non-ideal levels are only a mild deterrent. Some actually choose to grow their motherwort in less-than-ideal conditions in order to keep its growth under control.
However, should you wish to grow motherwort in perfect circumstances, slightly alkaline soil (from 7.4 to 7.8) is your best bet.
Should you ever need to remove it, the entire plant must be pulled up by the roots, as simply chopping it off at the base will only delay its progress.
USES
the overall herb, and especially its pink or purple flowers, are used in potions to aid with and spur childbirth, and is safe to use in the late stages of pregnancy as well as during breastfeeding.
it has some uses as a substitute in potions for heart-related issues stemming from anxiety and heart disease.
It also has use in dubiously antiquated and complex (though proven effective) remedies for hydrophobia, also known as rabies.
The roots have no purported uses.
FLUXWEED
Also called flixweed or tansy mustard, or Descurainia sophia, this plant is in fact a member of the mustard family.
The annual’s green stems are topped with yellow flowers in the summer, specifically July and August.
Originally, this plant was native to Western Asia, but spread across that landmass to the rest of Asia and parts of Europe.
-It can be cultivated in greenhouses worldwide.
CARE
Descurainia sophia grows roughly between ten and thirty inches tall and prefers full sun.
Don’t water too frequently, as this plant likes dry conditions; wait until the soil is completely dry to the touch to water. As long as the soil is arable -- meaning it has a pH that is suitable for plant growth in general, which is between 4.5 and 9 -- this annual herb should do just fine.
-There are no specific pH requirements.
USES
Its properties range widely, aiding in everything from transformations, such as
-Polyjuice Potion,
-potions for dysentery
-diarrhea.
Transformation is thought to be the primary use, while its other uses are more secondary.
If the whole plant is used in a potion, it is typically used fresh for higher potency, though there is something to be said for the use of its dried flowers in completely separate preparations than those mentioned above, such as Bottled Butterflies in the Stomach.
Its seeds can also be used, dried or raw, in the Thirst-Quenching Quaff.
DEHUMIDIFYING SPELL
INCANTATION: arfacua
PRONUNCIATION: AR-fah-COO-ah
WAND MOVEMENT: tap the object
CONCENTRATION: low to high
WILLPOWER: low
