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hh_clubs2009-03-18 06:20 pm
accountingwitch.livejournal.com) wrote in hh_clubs2009-03-18 06:20 pm
Entry tags:
Herbology Club: Rewriting the Textbook
Your assignment: Rewriting the Textbook
Details: The old Herbology textbook is a bit out of date, and we've been asked to help update a few entries!
Pick a plant from THIS LIST. Make sure it isn't a plant that somebody hasn't already written about - first come, first served! I don't mind if it's magical, or a wand tree, or a mundane plant you just throw into potions. There's over fifty plants listed, so there shouldn't be any problems getting one!
Please try to keep your entry as accurate possible. Stating maple is a tree commonly used for wands, grows up to 45 m and found across the world isn't hard. However, I won't bite your head off if you make up a random scientific name (if J.K. can use Dog Latin without impunity, so can we!), add that a species in Africa is prone to spontaneous combustion or note that its sap boosts Love Potion effects. I'm leaving the accuracy/creativity judgment call to you guys.
Things your entry must have:
Name: Common and scientific. Feel free to make up the latter.
Size: Height/breadth? Preferably in centimetres/metres, but I know this can be so hard for some of you. >.>;
Colour: I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS
Location: NEITHER THIS
Variations: How many species are there? Any popular/special ones we should know?
Suggested Magical Use(s): Edible? Potions ingredient? More effective than Aunt Marge's dogs at fending off Death Eaters?
Author's Note(s): Anything else you want to add about this plant?
Optional Image: You may include a 100x100 image of your plant, but it isn't necessary.
Got your act together? Submit your assignment using this handy-dandy form!
Points: 10 for participation.
Due Date: Wednesday, March 25, evening EST
Not afraid to get your hands dirty? Join us in the greenhouse!
no subject
Size: American Holly is 15-30 feet tall, or upwards of 100 ft.
Colour: Green leaves with red berries
Location: North East and Southwest, sometimes in the Midwest
Variations: Japanese Holly, Hawaiian Holly, Mountain Holly
Suggested Magical Use(s): Protection from poison, lightning, and witchcraft. This plant is also good to add color to any dish and might even add some flavor to the dish. Because of it's cheery nature, it's good at sending dementors away.
Author's Note(s): This plant is traditionally seen around the winter holidays
Rebecca//Hufflepuff
dammit i can't read
Size: 4-15 cm in diameter when in bloom, bushes at least 2 feet high
Colour: creamy-white/pink blossoms, greenish grey leaves.
Location: North America, Europe
Variations: Some shudder and some completely shake wildly like a disco dancer.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Add it to peppermint tea for a little kick in your step.
Charyse||Gryffindor
no subject
Size: Can reach up to about 0.6 m tall, leaves get about 7.6 cm long
Colour: leaves tend to be grey-green, however depending on the variety they can be other colors. Purple sage has leaves that are reddish-purple when young, 'Aurea' is smaller and has yellow leaves. 'Tricolor' has leaves patterned with red, cream and green. 'Icterina' has variegated gold and green leaves.
Location: Originally from the Mediterranean regions of north Africa, Spain and the Balkans. It's very common to find around Europe, and easily grown in most gardens.
Variations: There are a large number of variations. Most of the differences come in leaf colors, as stated already, and some vary in size. The common Purple Sage is considered to be the strongest of garden sages. And 'Extrakta', has leaves with higher oil concentrations than the others.
Suggested Magical Use(s): It is widely used by Witches, Wizard, and Muggles alike for cooking purposes, it makes a great peppery spice (particularly on meats). The Latin name for sage, salvia, means “to heal" and is widely used by muggles for treating just about any ailment. It is a good potion ingredient however, particularly for it's cleansing and healing properties. It is also burnt by some to cleanse a room, or by Centaurs who observe the fumes and flames to refine the results of their stargazing
Author's Note(s): It is known that taking large doses of sage preparations during pregnancy or if epileptic, can be dangerous. Also, dried sage has a lovely smell.
Image: (optional)
Krystal//Gryffindor
no subject
Size: small-to-medium tree (10-20 metres/33-66 feet)
Colour: Brown bark, dark green leaves
Location: western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia/\.
Variations: There are different types of yew tree: Pacific, European, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Canadian, Sumatran, Himalayan. I chose the European Yew because it's the most likely type to be used in wands (being that Hogwarts is in Europe). The seed is bitter, and many parts of the tree are toxic and can cause a swift death.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Currently, yew trees are used for wands, and they symbolize death and resurrection. They're quite popular in literature (everything from The Count of Monte Cristo to Beowulf to Titus Andronicus to The Hobbit.
Author's Note(s): Lord Voldemort is the only person in the series to have used a yew wand, which is interesting, considering how toxic the tree can be.
Shir//Ravenclaw
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Size: 2-10 cm stems, 2-5 cm leaves, flower heads 2-3 cm in diameter.
Colour: White ray florets and yellow disc florets; ray florets may be tipped red, however the pure white specimens are more suitable to magical purposes.
Location: Native to Europe but wide-spread across the Americas.
Variations: There are many species of daisy, mostly from the Asteraceae family, however the Common Daisy is most widely found and used.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Bellis perennis has a steadying effect and is therefore often used as a neutralizer in potions. An example is it's use in the Shrinking Solution, where it partially neutralizes the effect of the shrivelfig to prevent the potion from causing atomization.
It is also a useful astringent, and therefore a potion containing it is often used by Healers on bites and other wounds. One unverified case from a 1660 edition of Bertrum Barley's Magike Of Wellnesse and Healinge reports that when a tincture of dandelion and comfrey was applied to a man's werewolf bite immediately after the fact, he experienced lessened symptoms at and around the full moon. This hypothesis, however, as evaded a full scientific evaluation due to the difficulty of researching lycanthropy.
Author's Note(s): Great care must be taken in preparing any part of the plant for neutralizing purposes - the roots must be chopped very evenly with as little juice as possible allowed to escape, and added to the potion immediately before they dry out. In the case of the flowers and leaves, for all potions except for the Defibrillating Draught (where they should both be chopped in the same manner as the roots) they must be crushed to the finest possible pulp, preferably using the flat side of a silver dagger, and any remaining juice should be drained.
Image: (optional)
Sorcha//Gryffindor
no subject
Size: They range widely in size.
Average weight of 9–18 lbs with the largest weighing over 75 lbs. They range in size, from less than 1 pound to over 1,000 pounds.
Colour: Pumpkins are usually yellow or orange (more commonly orange and some can be dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red and gray.
Location: Pumpkins are grown for many diffrent uses all around the world. The only continent in the world unable to produce pumpkins is Antarctica.
Variations: Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Mostly used for decoration and for consumption. Hagrid, gamekeeper at Hogwarts School, has a Pumpkin patch outside his hut.
Author's Note(s): The pumpkin is the state fruit of New Hampshire.
Rebecca//Hufflepuff
no subject
Size: Plants grow to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) tall with 18 centimetres (7.1 in) long ovate leaves. The fruits are berries, approximately 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter.
Colour: The fruits are green ripening to a shiny black, and
Location: It is naturalized in parts of North America, where it is often found in shady, moist locations with limestone-rich soils.
Variations: See also Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna)
Suggested Magical Use(s): Flying Ointment: The ointment contains a fatty base and various herbal extracts, usually including solanaceous herbs that contain the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The herbs' essential oils are extracted when heated in the base. These oils are poisonous when ingested; when applied to the skin, the alkaloids are absorbed more slowly into the body. Typical ingredients in recipes include hemlock (Conium spp.), deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), wolfsbane (Aconitum spp.), and henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), usually in a base of animal fat.
Witches and wizards are able to fly to the Sabbath on their brooms with help of the ointment.
Author's Note(s): Belladonna has been known to be used by some wizarding folk for recreational drug use, and so the sale of such an ingredient is now carefully regulated by the Ministry of Magic.
Image:
Mindy//Gryffindor
v3 html HATES ME
Size: up to 35 metres tall
Colour: of leaves: yellowish green to blueish green, of flowers: usually yellow, of fruit: silky white
Location: widely prevalent everywhere where there's enough water
Variations: There are over 400 species of willows known. A famous one is the Weeping Willow, which is a cross breed of Salix babylonica and Salix alba. In Europe, the White Willow (Salix alba) is popular. There are even Willows that live in cold areas, the Salix arctica grows up to 20cm in height.
Suggested Magical Use(s): frequently used to heal common fever, the wood qualifies as wand wood seeing as it is tough, strong, and light in weight
Author's Note(s): A famous example of a Willow in the wizard world is the Whomping Willow. It is a highly dangerous, hybrid tree which was cultivated by crossing a Weeping Willow (Salix × sepulcralis) with a Whomper (Ferio arvensis).
Mia of Ravenclaw
no subject
Size: 50-120 cm in height.
Colour: The Asphodel most commonly used in magical applications is the White Asphodel (Asphodelus Albus), with white flowers with six elongated petals. Another common magical asphocel is Branched Asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus), with yellow blossoms.
Location: Commonly found in the meadows of Central Spain, southwest France, and the southern Alps. It can also be found in Libya, but is less common there.
Variations: The family Asphodelaceae includes many related flowering plants, and any of these may be referred to by the common name Asphodel. It is best to proceed with caution when experimenting with potions involving Asphodel, until use of the correct Asphodel has been determined. Either White or Branched Asphodels may be intended, and the substitution of one for another may require brewing adjustments or unintended side effects.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Asphodel is one of the key ingredients in the Draught of Living Death. Potions recipes have been found using both White or Branched Asphodel, but the Branched variations are consistently longer acting and inflict more permanent conditions. White asphodel Draughts cause only a deep sleep, while Branched Asphodel Draughts induce a true "living death" which may last for years. Thus Branched Asphodel is classed as a restricted substance by the ministry, and its usage strictly regulated.
Author's Note(s): In Muggle mythology, Asphodel was the favorite food of the dead. The Asphodel Meadows were a section of the afterlife where the souls of those who lived lives of near equal good and evil spent their eternity. It was an area of utter neutrality, where the dead continue on in their uninteresting monotony of their lives even in death. This fragment of muggle legend shows a curious parallel to its magical purposes, and suggests that Muggles may have been aware of Asphodel's magical properties at some time in their history.
Image:
Kimberly//Ravenclaw
no subject
Size: The Giner plant can be three to four feet high
Colour: Ginger produces clusters of white and pink flower buds that bloom into yellow flowers. The natural color of the "white" scraped ginger is a pale buff; it is often whitened by bleaching or liming, but this generally reduces its value.
Location: originated in Asia and is grown in India, Southeast Asia, West Africa and the Caribbean
Variations: Scalding, applied generally to the older and poorer roots, produces Black Ginger; washing and scraping gives White Ginger.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Cut ginger roots are used in Wit-Sharpening Potion.
Author's Note(s): There are many uses for ginger, the root of the plant can be used as a spice for cooking. It can also be used for Medicinal purposes to help diarrhea and nausea. There are also Regional uses for this plant and spice as well as many folk medicinal uses. Ginger can cause an allergic reaction with a rash and can cause heartburn, bloating, gas, belching and nausea, particularly if taken in powdered form.
Image: I will come back and put this in.
Stephanie//Hufflepuff
no subject
Size: The plant is usually between 85cm-1,5 meters tall, while the fruit is around 8-10 cm in diameter. The plant also has luscious leaves that can grow up to 50cm tall.
Colour: The fruit has a reddish yellow colour while the plant itself and its leaves are green.
Location: Can be found in several parts of Ethiopia, including Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti.
Variations: The Shrivelfig plant is one of a kind and thus there can be found no variations of it.
Suggested Magical Use(s): The Shrivelfig plant's fruit is most often used in potions of magical alteration and is commonly used in the Shrinking Potion, as the very name of the plant already suggests. It is to be used when peeled, for its skin can damage the other ingredients of the potion. The plant's leaves have no magical use, though they are believed to be edible.
Author's Note(s): Should not be digested in raw form. Consumption of raw Shrivelfig can cause a most unfortunate physical reaction in the form of permament shrinkage of some parts of the human body.
Image: (optional)
Eve//Slytherin
no subject
Size: The stem is about 3 feet high.
Colour: Dark green, glossy leaves, deeply divided in palmate manner and flowers in erect clusters of a dark blue colour. The sepals are purple - purple being specially attractive to bees - and are fancifully shaped, one of them being in the form of a hood.
Location: Lower mountain slopes of the North portion of the Eastern Hemisphere. From the Himalayas through Europe to Great Britain.
Variations: There are over 250 species of Aconitum.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Primarily used in Wolfsbane potion, a potion that prevents the extremely dangerous dementia which would otherwise accompany the transformation from human into werewolf. It is also used in healing potions, as it diminishes the rate and force of the pulse in the early stages of fevers and slight local inflammations, such as feverish cold, larnyngitis, first stages of pneumonia and erysipelas; it also relieves the pain of neuralgia, pleurisy and aneurism.
Author's Note(s): Only the most experienced brewer should try to work with aconite, as in higher doses it can be a deadly poison.
Image: (optional)
Lilith//Gryffindor
no subject
Size: 6-20 inches
Colour: blue-purple, blooming late summer through early fall
Location: stream banks and sandy areas throughout the eastern United States.
Suggested Magical Use(s):
When picked at full moon, this plant is used in Polyjuice Potion
Author's Note(s):
This is also known as false pennyroyal and is a member of the mint family.
Name//House
Kimberly / Slytherin
no subject
Size: up to 20 cm in height
Colour: ranges from pink/red/orange to blue/purple
Location: temperate regions, but grows well in most soils
Variations: more mundane varieties don't have fangs
Suggested Magical Use(s): The Fanged Geranium is highly recommended for recluses who don't favour company: simply install them on a windowsill planter. The Fanged Geranium is also a recognized competition breed of flower and a fierce category to compete in the annual Wizarding Gardens Championship.
Author's Note(s): Due to its popularity and easy blending with its less magical species, there are stiff fines if caught using them anywhere near a Muggle or Muggle settlement.
Elaine//Ravenclaw
no subject
Size: Honking Daffodil grows to 20-40 cm tall
Colour: Golden. Yes, golden. Not goldenrod, or a golden yellow. Think golden bronze like a trumpet.
Location: Honking Daffodil are widely naturalized in North America and Europe.
Variations: Tooting Daffodil are a variation on the Honking Daffodil. They are narrower, higher pitched, and silver in color.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Most witches and wizards prefer to keep these plants in their garden, as they allow a pleasant backdrop to an afternoon tea. In potions, however, they have been used to add potency to a Drought of Sonorus, which is often used by Squibs who take positions as announcers.
Author's Note(s): Take caution not to plant more than 10 HD in any given garden, as the noise from these beatuful buds eventually becomes a dull roar and may disturb the neighbors.
Image: (optional) img (http://rubycrownedkinglette.typepad.com/photos/learning_to_draw_in_2007/daffodil.jpg)
Kendrah // Hufflepuff
no subject
Size: 20-30 cm high
Colour: Greenish-grey leaves, Pastel pinks to purples flowers
Location: Crete, Greece
Variations: Stone Mint and White Dittany
Suggested Magical Use(s): Healing properties
Author's Note(s): Do not eat, as it is quite bitter to the taste and do not try to collect it yourself for it is located on dangerous terrain! Leave that to a professional. You may live to thank me!
Image: (optional)
Andromeda//Hufflepuff
no subject
Size: Various species grow to be around 24-36" tall with a similar-size spread. Flowers are typically 3-5" across.
Colour: White (or pinkish white) to yellow-green flowers.
Location: Much of Europe and a small slice of China.
Variations: Approximately 20 species exist, including Stinking Hellebore, Christmas Roses, and Bear's-foot. Some species are caulescent, but most are stemless.
Suggested Magical Use(s): The roots of this plant are commonly used in potions for soothing mental distress and can even alleviate the symptoms of serious mental disorders. A syrup made from this plant is a main (and crucial) ingredient in the Draught of Peace. The flowers can be used, very cautiously (as they are highly poisonous) in curative and preventative potions against certain hexes.
Author's Note(s): Be extremely cautious when handling, as it's highly toxic. Never ingest any part of the plant raw.
Image:
Kai//Slytherin
no subject
Size: Various species have been known to grow up to 30 m high.
Colour: Rich hues in varying brownish tones; some with darker veining.
Location: Several parts of the world. Notably found in Tropical America, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar.
Variations: Brazilian Rosewood (which is also termed as an endangered species), East Indian Rosewood.
Suggested Magical Use(s): Supposedly Rosewood is the wood of love as it is well known for its powers in matters of the heart as well as for its medicinal qualities. It is said to work well for charms, particularly dealing with those of love and healing. It is also well suited for use in divination. Is most obviously used in making wands as all Rosewood is known to be strong and heavy, with excellent polish.
Fleur Delacour is an example of someone who uses a Rosewood wand. Her wand is 9 1/2 " long, inflexible, and contains a veela hair from her Grandmother.
Author's Note(s): Rosewood is notably used mainly for flooring, furniture, turnery, musical instruments, billiard cues, and chess sets.
**Not all species in the large genus Dalbergia yield Rosewoods, only about a dozen species.
Becky//Slytherin
no subject
Size: Gillyweed can reach a height of twenty feet and obtain a diameter of 4 1/2 inches.
Colour: gray-green
Location: native to the Mediterranean
Variations:
Suggested Magical Use(s): Eating it will create gills on the sides of your neck (while stopping your normal breathing), allowing you to breathe underwater for a short time. It also makes your feet and hands web-like, to make for easy swimming.
Author's Note(s): The possession, use, or sale of psychoactive cannabis products became illegal in most parts of the world in the early 20th century. Smoking of cannabis is the most harmful method of consumption, since the inhalation of smoke from organic materials such as cannabis, tobacco, wood and gasoline can cause various health problems.
Image:
Roxie//Gryffindor
no subject