You'll learn which plants to avoid (like exploding shrubs), which plants make themselves exceedingly unwelcome (like the vine that ate the South), and which ones have been killing for centuries (like the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln's mother). It's an A to Z of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate, and otherwise offend. In Wicked Plants, Stewart takes on over two hundred of Mother Nature's most appalling creations. The genus that contains these deadly cousins is named after Ceberus, the three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the Underworld.About the Book Stewart takes on more than 200 of Mother Nature's most appalling creations and offers this A-to-Z compendium of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate, and otherwise offend.īook Synopsis A tree that sheds poison daggers a glistening red seed that stops the heart a shrub that causes paralysis a vine that strangles and a leaf that triggered a war. It is commonly called Suicide Tree because of the frequency with which the heart-stopping fruit is used by locals to take their lives or the lives of others.

For example, one of the poisons mentioned is scientifically named Cerbera odollam, the genus contains sweet smelling shrubs like its cousin Oleander. Others are discreet an unassuming, making them possibly more dangerous, sneaking into our homes where we think we are safe. Some botanical poisons are more notorious than others, as they are known for their destructive powers. Lovers poisoned by deadly bouquets and unassuming dinner guests accidentally done in by the main course are some of the stories told within this book. Poisons can be found in the most unassuming of places, and that is a recurring theme. Ritual use, ordeal poisons, hallucinogens, and intoxicants poisons have been used for a myriad of purposes from medicinal to aphrodisiac, and Stewart categorizes their personalities accordingly. Each one of the plants has their own unique story to tell about their encounters with humanity.

Many poisonous plants have played a prominent role in the shaping of human history, and their stories are told here. It does have all kinds of obscure historical information that tells about the origins of these plants, and how they were used throughout history. This book isn’t specifically about using poisonous plants in witchcraft, although this guide wouldn’t be complete without the plants found in the witch’s garden.

Wicked plants by amy stewart