Herbology Club: Rewriting the Textbook

[accountingwitch.livejournal.com]

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Details: The old Herbology textbook is a bit out of date, and we've been asked to help update a few entries!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!

<B>Name</B>: Common (<I>scientific</I>) <B>Size</B>: <B>Colour</B>: <B>Location</B>: <B>Variations</B>: <B>Suggested Magical Use(s)</B>: <B>Author's Note(s)</B>: <B>Image</B>: (optional) <img src=""> Name//House

Points: 10 for participation.

Due Date: Wednesday, March 25, evening EST

Not afraid to get your hands dirty? Join us in the greenhouse!

Comments

[xmusicnotesx.livejournal.com]

Name: Daisy, Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)
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