Lore 280: Flower Power (ad-free) (Patreon)

The soil of history is rich with all sorts of traditions and folklore, many of which have sprouted into deadly tools and powerful magic. At least, that’s what the stories tell us.

Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by GennaRose Nethercott, research by Cassandra de Alba, and music by Chad Lawson.

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Sources: 

• “The Annals of Psychical Research, Vol. 1 Office of the Annals of Psychical Science, January-June 1905

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• “The incredible tale of the foxglove, from curing to disease to inspiring Van Gogh’s most striking paintings.” Country Life. June 10, 2018. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/incredible-tale-foxglove-179066 

• Islam, Tawhida, Iffat Ara, Tariqul Islam, Pankaj Kumar Sah, Ray Silva de Almeida, Edinardo Fagner Ferreira Matias, Cícero Lucas Gomes Ramalho, Henrique Douglas M. Coutinho, and Muhammad Torequl Islam. “Ethnobotanical uses and phytochemical, biological, and toxicological profiles of Datura metel L.: A review.” Current Research in Toxicology 4, 2003: pp. 100-106.

• Jansen, Suze A., Iris Kleerekooper, Zonne L. M. Hofman, Isabelle F. P. M. Kappen, Anna Stary-Weinzinger, and Marcel A. G. van der Heyden. “Grayanotoxin Poisoning: ‘Mad Honey Disease’ and Beyond.” Cardiovascular Toxicology 123, 2012: pp. 208-215.

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• Jonker, Jamie. “Datura sppJimsonweed, Downy Thornapple, Devil's Trumpet, and Angel's Trumpet.” Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. [n.d.] http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/jimsonweed/jimsonweed.html 

• Karadja, Princess. “A Wonderful Seance in Berlin.” Light. March 30, 1901. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Light/FNLD3JRM3IYC 

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• “The Language of Flowers.” Smithsonian Gardens. [n.d.] https://gardens.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SIGardens_HistBloom_Language_of_Flowers.pdf 

• Larsen, Andrew E. “The Inspiration For Disney’s Robin Hood Wasn’t Actually Robin Hood.” Gizmodo. September 20, 2014. https://gizmodo.com/the-inspiration-for-disneys-robin-hood-wasnt-actually-r-1637183737 

• Mabillard, Amanda. “Macbeth Glossary: blind-worm 4.1.16.” Shakespeare Online. August 20, 2000. https://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/macbeth/macbethglossary/macbeth1_1/macbethglos_blindworm.html 

• Matzdorf, Harriet. “A Shakespearean recipe for Witch’s Brew.” University of Minnesota Libraries. October 26, 2017. https://libnews.umn.edu/2017/10/shakespearean-recipe-witchs-brew/  

• Mayor, Adrienne. Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs: Biological & Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World Overlook, 2008.

• “The Meanings Behind These InFamous Potion Ingredients.” Dictionary.com. October 25, 2021. https://www.dictionary.com/e/witch-ingredients/ 

• “Melzer, Heinrich 1873-?.” Encyclopedia.com. August 16, 2024. https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/melzer-heinrich-1873 

• “Mugwort.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. January 2021. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/mugwort 

• “A New Flower Medium in Germany.” The Annals of Psychical Science 419, 1906: p. 63.

• “The Powerful Solanaceae: Belladonna.” U.S. Forest Service. [n.d.] https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/belladonna.shtml 

• “The Powerful Solanaceae: Datura.” U.S. Forest Service. [n.d.] https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/datura.shtml

• “Rerlin [sic] Blavatsky Brought To Trial.” The Greenville News. April 9, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/187456324/ 

• Ronca, Debra. “Is Eye of Newt a Real Thing?” HowStuffWorks. July 13, 2015. https://people.howstuffworks.com/is-eye-of-newt-real-thing.htm

• Roth, Harold. The Witching Herbs: 13 Essential Plants and Herbs for Your Magical Garden Weiser Books, 2017.

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• Sedlack-Hevener, Amanda. “Cemetery Symbolism: Flowers and Leaves.” Found in Ohio. August 16, 2023. https://foundinohio.com/2023/08/16/cemetery-symbolism-flowers-and-leaves/ 

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• Smith, K. Annabelle. “Why the Tomato Was Feared in Europe for More Than 200 Years.” Smithsonian Magazine. June 18, 2013. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-the-tomato-was-feared-in-europe-for-more-than-200-years-863735/ 

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• Steven, Isabel. “Rosemary for Shakespeare.” The Rosenbach. April 22, 2022. https://rosenbach.org/blog/rosemary-for-shakespeare/ 

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• Taub, Benjamin. “‘Mad Honey’ Once Poisoned An Entire Roman Military Column, With Deadly Consequences.” IFLScience. May 4, 2023. https://www.iflscience.com/mad-honey-once-poisoned-an-entire-roman-military-column-with-deadly-consequences-68755 

• Thompson, Helen. “Poison Hath Been This Italian Mummy’s Untimely End.” Smithsonian Magazine. January 14, 2015. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/poison-hath-been-italian-mummys-untimely-end-digitalis-foxglove-180953822/ 

• Tishma, Mariel. “More than ‘toil and trouble’: Macbeth and medicine.” Hektoen International. Spring 2019. https://hekint.org/2019/05/30/more-than-toil-and-trouble-macbeth-and-medicine/ 

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• Tyler, Erik. “The Strange and Magical Potato.” Erik Tyler. August 23, 2020. https://eriktyler.co.uk/the-folklore-of-potatoes/ 

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• Vorobyov, Niko. “What it’s like tripping on mad honey, the hallucinogen that maybe is an aphrodisiac.” Salon. April 10, 2022. https://www.salon.com/2022/04/10/what-its-like-tripping-on-mad-honey-the-hallucinogen-that-maybe-is-an-aphrodisiac/ 

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