#birthwort

[thebashfulbotanist]

Sometimes you come across really interesting plants in boring places. This is Aristolochia lindneri, a plant in the birthwort family that occurs only in Chiquitania region of the state of Santa Cruz, Bolivia and possibly northwestern Paraguay. Weirdly, this population was found in a mowed lawn near a swimming pool. Go figure.

[thebotanicalarcade]

n11_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: Gartenflora. Erlangen :F. Enke,1852-1940. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40103255

[whatnext10]

It’s Interesting to Look Deep into the Throats of Flowers

It’s Interesting to Look Deep into the Throats of Flowers features a macro photo of the throat of a pipevine flower. It explains why the author/artist enjoys taking images like this.

Deep Have you ever taken a close look down the throat of a deep throated flower? I’m not sure exactly why they fascinate me, but, but I’m always curious about what’s down there. Maybe I want to see the same view as a bee does, I’m not sure. Whatever the reason, I like doing it even more now that I have a macro lens. The macro lens gives an even better view of what’s down inside those flowers.…

[easel-eisel]

Terms derived from wort

adder's wort (Bistorta officinalis)

adderwort (Bistorta officinalis)

asterwort (Asteraceae spp.)

awlwort (Subularia aquatica)

banewort

barrenwort (Epimedium alpinum)

bearwort (Meum athamanticum)

bellwort

birthwort

bishop's-wort (Stachys officinalis)

bitterwort

bladderwort

blawort

bloodwort

blue throatwort

blushwort

bogwort

boragewort

bridewort

brimstonewort

brotherwort

brownwort

bruisewort

bugwort

bullwort

burstwort

butterwort

cancerwort (Kickxia spp.)

catwort

clown's ringwort

colewort

common ragwort

coralwort

crosswort

damewort

danewort

dragonwort

dragon's wort

dropwort*

dungwort

earwort*

ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron)

elderwort

European pillwort

fanwort

felonwort

feltwort

felwort

[hoursofreading]

Herbal baths were given to relax the expectant mother during the later months.35 Documentary evidence suggests that women were encouraged to give birth in a sitting or squatting position. They were encouraged to do breathing exercises for labor, much as they are today, but there was no pain relief beyond opiates such as poppy seeds or infusions made of tansy, parsley, mint, cress, willow leaves and seeds, ivy, birthwort, or the bark of the white poplar. Instead, women relied on the protection of female saints such as St. Margaret of Antioch, to whom they would offer prayers of supplication. Westminster Abbey owned a precious relic, the girdle of the Virgin Mary, which was sometimes lent to queens and high-ranking women, so that they could tie it around themselves in labor, for it was believed to be of special efficacy at such times; and there were girdles of other saints with similar miraculous properties.36 Sometimes a prayer on a long scroll of parchment would be wrapped around the mother as a “birth girdle.”37 Despite all these practices, many women would have suffered the unmitigated pain of natural labor.

Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World (Weir, Alison)

[maniculum]

Happy Valentine's Day! In this episode, we delve into medieval love spells, contraception, and the challenges women faced in matters of love and pregnancy. From mysterious plants and potions to debates among theologians on abortion ethics, explore the intersection of magic, societal views, and women's health in the Middle Ages.

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)

Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’

Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’

Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Meanings of Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft,

Kieckhefer, Richard. ‘The Specific Rationality of Medieval Magic.’

Kieckhefer, Richard. Magic in the Middle Ages.

John M. Riddle, Contraception and Early Abortion in the Middle Ages

Thomas R Forbes, Midwifery and Witchcraft.

Lydia Harris, Evacuating the Womb: Abortion and Contraception in the High Middle Ages,

circa 1050-1300.

Etienne van de Walle, Flowers and Fruits: Two Thousand Years of Menstrual Regulation.

John Haldane and Patrick Lee, Aquinas on Human Ensoulment, Abortion and the Value of Life.

John M. Riddle and J. Worth Estes, Oral Contraceptives in Ancient and Medieval Times.

John Scarborough and Andrea Fernandes, Ancient Medicinal Use of Aristolochia: Birthwort's Tradition and Toxicity

Phillip A. Bernhardt-House, The Old Irish Impotence Spell: The Dam Dli, Fergus, Fertility, and the Mythic Backround of an Irish Incantation

[missmyloko]

I was wondering about the identification of one the kanzashi on your blog: the hollyhock kanzashi. I found out that the plant which we see represented in the mon is actually aoi which belongs to the birthwort family and translates as "wild ginger" - Asarum. Asarum doesn't have small orange flowers. I wonder, if the kanzashi represents a species of violet, Viola pubescens. What do you think?

It can't be the Viola pubescens as that's native to North America and not Japan. I'm wondering though if the flowers shown with the aoi leaves in the kanzashi are some sort of plant that blooms alongside the aoi in the wild. However, if I had to take a best guess as to what plant it actually may be, I'd be going with a type of mallow, which is in the hollyhock family, called Abutilon indicum as it has the correct yellow flowers and can be found growing all over Asia.

[sthapeenis]

clematitis," also known as birthwort. This plant has resolve. "But no matter what lies ahead, I know we can

Whistle: A magical instrument that calls forth the

Sloths: With their slow movements and imagination. Tales speak of crystals that grant and despair. Yet, he refuses to surrender to the

[violetcatt]

Trillium

...AKA birthwort.

[thebashfulbotanist]

Winter virus season is here...

...and with it, folks who come up with bizarre and ineffective herbal treatments for respiratory infections. It’s important to remember that just because a plant was used medicinally historically does not mean it’s effective. Sometimes, traditional medicinal plants can even be unsafe, and in ways our ancestors wouldn’t recognize - it was near impossible for people to document causes of cancer without long-term, complex studies like are used today. Many traditional medicinal plants are carcinogenic, including comfrey, birthwort, goldenseal, etc.

I really love this interview with Dr. Rosalyn LaPier, an Indigenous ethnobotanist and member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana and Métis, which mentions this issue. As she says, we need to remember the context of historical use of herbal medicines. She points out that, “[Our grandmothers] would never say that a particular plant cures a particular issue. They would almost always say, ‘This will help the symptoms of this particular thing.’” She goes on to say that our grandmothers would also stress exercise, sleep, and eating healthy - you can’t cheat with herbs! There’s no quick fix for health.

Dr. LaPier considers it tantamount to medical malpractice when herbalists suggest to people that an herbal remedy can “cure” a disease or otherwise do something it can’t. I’ve seen this crop up a lot in wildcrafting and foraging social media groups, and I think it’s something we all need to be careful to correct.

Wishing you a peaceful and healthy winter season!

[thebotanicalarcade]

n264_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: The Botanical register London :Printed for James Ridgway,1815-1828. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/131740

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 10 June 2020

In some dry, semi-shade Aristolochia clematitis (upright birthwort) is producing whorls of pale-yellow tubular flowers. This herbaceous perennial has creeping, branched rhizomes that have gently spread through the bed producing upright stems of heart-shaped leaves.

Jill Raggett

[miamilush]

Tropical Plant Spotlight: Dutchman’s Pipe Vine (Aristolochia littoralis).A climbing vine from South and Central America, Dutchman’s pipe has large crepey flowers with Maroon splotches and a yellow throat. When opened the unusual flowers produce a scent similar to rotten meat that some people find unpleasant. Best grown on a fence or large tree, where it can be supported.

Pros: An exotic addition to your landscape that is sure to get people’s attention. Dutchman’s pipe is also a host plant to the swallowtail butterfly, and will certainly attract them to your garden.

Cons: Like all climbing vines, Dutchman’s pipe needs to be maintained to avoid becoming overgrown.

[whatnext10]

The Pipevine has a Unique and Interesting Looking Flower

The Pipevine has a Unique and Interesting Looking Flower shows readers the flowers of the elegant pipevine or calico flower. It also discusses that this is an invasive species in Florida and how the author plans to deal with that.

Pipevine Flower Pipevine (Aristolochia spp.) also known as birthwort or Dutchman’s pipe are climbing vines that can be found in a large variety of climates and habitats. The type that grows on my property happens to be (Aristolochia littoralis). It’s also sometimes called elegant pipevine or calico flower. It’s native to South America, but it commonly grows here in Florida. It is considered…

[absolutegravityman]

Reposted from @molecule_of_the_day (@get_regrann) - Aristolochic acid is a strongly carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and mutagenic substance found in the birthwort family of plants 🌱. Surprisingly, the use of these plants for medicinal 💊 purposes has a very long history. Aristolochic acid first appeared in Chinese 🇨🇳 medicine in the fifth century CE, but the birthwort plants in which it is found are mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman medical texts dating back even earlier. In these ancient times, it was used to treat kidney problems, gout, and a variety of other ailments. Aristolochic acid was even used as a contraceptive. However, in the 20th century, scientific studies 📚 showed that the consumption of this compound led to rapid kidney failure and greatly increases the chance of liver cancer. The cancer-causing effect of aristolochic acid has been found to be even more potent than smoking 🚬 or exposure to UV light ☀️. The US FDA and other health agencies worldwide have issued warnings to consumers to avoid herbs containing aristolochic acid. Thanks 🙏 anonymous for the suggestion! The molecular structure was created using ChemDoodle. Be sure to follow them at @ichemlabs! #aristolochicacid #aristolochia #birthwort #medicine #ancient #tcm #kidney #liver #cancer #disease #photooftheday #chemistry #art #molecule - #regrann (en Urb Los Ficus - Santa Anita) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3V8DaglBvh/?igshid=1dw62lcita26x

[ofreedsandoaks]

When Larc tells you not to touch a plant, then you better not fucking touch it.