Category Archives: Botany
Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland Wolfsbane Aconitum vulparia [ Plantae: Angiospermae; Eudicots; Ranunculales; Aconiteae; Family: Ranunculaceae: Genus: Aconitum: Aconitum vulparia ] Common Names: Wolfsbane, Badger’s Bane, aconite, monkshood, wolfsbane, leopard’s bane, women’s bane, Devil’s helmet or … Continue reading
Birthwort
Birthwort The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland Birthwort Aristolochia clematitis [ Plantae: Aristolochiaceae: Aristolochia clematitis ] Common Names: Birthwort, Virginia Snakeroot, Snakeroot, Dutchman’s Pipe, Pipevine, etc. Localities: Found throughout the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus, it is … Continue reading
Henbane
Henbane The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland Henbane Hyoscyamus niger [ Plantae: Angiosperms: Eudicots: Asterids: Solanales: Solanaceae: Hyoscyamus: Hyoscyamus niger ] Common Names: stinking nightshade, black henbane, Common Henbane, Hyoscyamus, Hog’s-bean, Devil’s Eye, Jupiter’s-bean, Symphonica, Cassilata, Cassilago, … Continue reading
Common Rue
Ruta Graveolens / RUE The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland Rue: Ruta Graveolens Ruta Graveolens [ Plantae: Angiosperms: Eudicots: Rosids: Sapindales: Rutaceae: Rutoideae: Ruteae: Ruta: Ruta Graveolens ] Common Names: Localities: Commonly found throughout the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, … Continue reading
Vincetoxicum
Vincetoxicum officinalis The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland Vincetoxicum Vincetoxicum offinalis [ Plantae: Angiosperms: Eudicots: Asterids: Gentianales: Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae: Vincetoxicum: Vincetoxicum offinalis ] Common Names: Localities: North America; Texas to Delaware. Description: Is a twining perennial vine that … Continue reading
American Mandrake
American Mandrake The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland American Mandrake Podophyllum peltatum [ Plantae: Angiosperms: Eudicots: Core eudicots: Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae: Amaranthus: Podophyllum peltatum ] Common Names: Mayapple, Devil’s Apple, Hog-apple, Indian Apple, American Mandrake, American May Apple, Racoonberry, … Continue reading
Love Lies Bleeding
Love Lies Bleeding The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland Love Lies Bleeding Amaranthus caudatus [ Plantae: Angiosperms: Eudicots: Core eudicots: Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae: Amaranthus: A. caudatus ] Common Names: Amaranth, Amaranthus, Love Lies Bleeding, love-lies-bleeding, love-lies-a’bleeding, pendant amaranth, tassel … Continue reading
The Yew Tree
Yew Tree The Poison Garden, Blarney Castle, Ireland European Yew Taxus baccata [ Plantae: Pinophyta: Pinopsida: Pinales: Taxaceae: Taxus: T. baccata ] Common Names: Yew, Localities: The European Yew is a conifer that is native to Western, Central, … Continue reading
Irish Peat Fuel
Irish Peat Fuel Ireland and the United Kingdom are pretty unique in that they utilize “Peat” as a kind of fuel, while most of the world uses coal, wood, petroleum, or gas for their heating. Peat use can … Continue reading
Spittlebug Secretions
Faerie Poop or Spittlebug mess The legend has it that areas in the bushes and on plants where faeries take a leak, or take a poop, is left behind white foamy material. Of course these “Poop faeries” or … Continue reading