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Bane Folk

@banefolk

Poisonous flora, fauna and fungi
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“Regina Mandragora” by David S. Herrerías, 2016.

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In love with these whimsical folkloric illustrations of poisonous plants from the Arzneipflanzenbuch (Medicinal Plant Book), published in Augsburg, Germany circa 1520-1530. The dragon-shaped root of the belladonna illustration brings me joy! The whole book has been digitized and can be viewed online via the Bavarian State Library website.

Top left: belladonna

Top right: henbane

Bottom left: opium poppy

Bottom right: mandrake root

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Foxgloves are blooming in the poison garden! In western folklore the poisonous foxglove is one of the herbs traditionally harvested at midsummer as a charm of protection against evil, illness, and harm.

A simple way to do this would be to make a flower bouquet for your home around midsummer —it will look beautiful while protecting you and your home from all ills. When the flowers start to fade, you can dry them and use them in protection sachets hidden in your house, vehicle, or purse. Then replace them next year and start again!

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Today in the poison garden:

Japanese water iris (iris ensata)

This tiny iris with big showy blooms is native to Japan, China, Korea, and Russia where it has been valued as an ornamental flower for the past 500 years, possibly much longer. Today many varieties are available. Iris ensata is a perennial that likes full sun and moist, boggy, slightly acidic soil. It’s a good plant for pond edges or soggy parts of your yard. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9.

Caution: Irises contain multiple toxins that can cause skin irritation if the plant juices touch skin or mucus membranes and cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested. The rhizomes contain the highest concentration of toxins. Iris poisoning is not deadly to humans, just very unpleasant, but they can cause serious illness or death to pets and livestock if ingested.

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Elderberry leaves, branches, unripe berries, and seeds are mildly toxic due to lectins and cyanogenic glycosides which can result in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested. The flowers are edible fresh, cooked or dried and are used to make syrup, liqueur, wine, tea, fritters, and baked goods. The berries are safe to ingest after cooking and are famously used in teas, syrups, and tinctures to help relieve cold and flu symptoms.

Pictured: red elderberry (sambucus racemosa)

Note: don’t use red elderberries, they taste like compost juice.

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