Greenhouse #3 Lesson
Welcome students to Greenhouse 3! We'll be moving a step forward by introducing some dangerous herbs, mostly poisonous ones, so I advise you follow my lead closely and that you don't touch anything without my approval and guidance. Some of these herbs can be lethal and if not handled properly this might as well be the last place you've set foot in. So get your equipment ready and pay attention!
Aconite
Also known as "Woflsbane" and "Monkshood", this is one of the most dangerous herbs that we'll be covering in this Greenhouse. It looks like a lovely yellow flower, but its leaves are actually very toxic and anyone who ingests them has likely had their last meal. The plant was once spread all around the world, though nowadays it can only be found in the wild, specifically in wild places around Scotland.
This is a very important herb because it is the main ingredient of the "Wolfsbane Potion" which supposedly helps Werewolves by making their full moon transformation less painful and giving them the power to keep their human mind even when they're in werewolf form. So it isn't really a cure for werewolves, but it helps them immensely, and it makes them less dangerous.
Angel's Trumpet
Angel's Trumpet is actually a type of flower which can grow into the form of a shrub or it may even look tree-like once grown. It's quite large, with huge leaves, and its flowers are trumpet-shaped (this is obviously the reason for the name). The color of the flowers may vary - white, yellow, orange, red, pink, etc. Though the white ones are the most common (and that's where the "Angel" part of the name comes from).
However, not everything about this herb is so angel-like, because all of its parts have dangerous levels of poison and ingestion can be fatal. The herb is the main ingredient of the Angel's Trumpet Draught, which is possibly used as some sort of deadly poison.
Arnica
This is another herb with yellow-colored flowers that also looks very lovely but it is poisonous as well. The level of toxins is unknown, but it is definitely harmful. Its syrup is therefore used in the making of poisonous potions (such as "Potion N. 113" from Half-Blood Prince). This herb is common to Europe.
Asphodel
Asphodel also goes under the name of "Royal Staff" and can be found world-wide, both in the Wizarding and the Muggle Worlds. It is part of the lilies flower family, it has a long stem, with long and slender leaves, and at the top of the stem it has many flowers (which can be either yellow or white). It looks like a real divine flower, but it finds many uses in both Wizarding and Muggle Worlds.
Muggles use the leaves when preparing certain foods, while wizards and witches use the powdered form of the herb's roots for various potions. Its most famous use is probably for the "Draught of Living Death" and the "Wiggenweld Potion", two concoctions which have opposite effects. While the first one puts the drinker into an extremely deep sleep mode that resembles the state of death, the second one can be used as an antidote for the effects of the Draugh of Living Death because it heals from magically-induced sleeping.
Even though we have no actual facts about this, the herb is associated with the underworld and the afterlife (in Greek Mythology it is associated with Persephone - queen of the Underworld).
Baneberry
Rather a bush than a herb, the Banerberry looks like a sweet berry bush but it is quite poisonous. All parts of the tree (leaves, branches, flowers, berries, etc.) are poisonous, though the most poisonous part are the berries themselves. Regardless if they are white-colored or red-colored, their use is still the same - the "Baneberry Potion", which is a poison of sorts as well. Though even unprocessed the berries are harmful and should not be digested.
Belladonna
Also known as "Deadly Nightshade", "Death's Herb", "Witch's Berry", "Dwale", and "Atropa", and it is probably one of the most commonly used poisonous herbs. Its frequent use comes from the facts that it is found worldwide, because it gives a lot of flowers and fruits (berries), and because it has a very strong poison, meaning it is easily found and under a cheap price but it works miracles (not the good kind of miracles though).
The Belladonna can grow quite tall (up to 1.5 meters), it has a branching bush-like structure, purple bells-shaped flowers with green tinges, and tiny dark berries (dark green, dark blue, black, etc.). Because of its specifications, the Belladonna is used in the making of poisonous potions.
Deathlyius & Death-Cap
It is unknown whether the two names refer to one herb, but we know that they're both poisonous mushrooms and that they're used in potions (one of which is the "Death-Cap Draught", a poison of lower rank). So taking into account the little info that we have, these two mushrooms might just be the same mushroom under different names.
Hellebore
Hellebore is a flowering herb that exists both in our and the muggle world and it has been used since the very early years of mankind for various medicines and treatments. However, there are certain varieties of Hellebore which are highly toxic and can bring death just minutes after making contact with one's blood system. In our world this herb has found its way as a potion ingredient, especially in the concoction called Syrup of Hellebore which uses an extract from the herb itself.
Henbane
A wonderful flower with green-ish yellow leaves, whose name literally translates to "hen killer", and seeing how it is a poisonous herb, its name shouldn't come as a surprise. During middle ages it was used medicinally as an anesthetic, even though it has many bad side-effects. Nowadays it's used in potion-making, mostly for brewing poisonous potions.
Moonseed
The seeds of this brilliant white flower resemble a crescent moon, though their beautiful look is just a mask as all parts of the herb are known to be highly poisonous. Associating it with the name, this herb is probably the main ingredient of the Moonseed Poison.
Venomous Tentacula
Found worldwide this herb has a long stem with red flowers, though otherwise it is completely green with lots of spikes. It's described to be tasty though it's hard to capture one because it has mobile vines with which it attacks and tries to grab its prey. Afterward it finishes them off by producing poison from its shoots, or simply biting them or pressing them against its spikes, which can be lethal. The plant can be stun and harmed using Diffindo.
Yew
Although a very important element in Wandlore as wands are made out of this tree, it is in fact highly poisonous. It has a wide trunk (up to 2 meters in diameter), with a thin scaly brown bark, and flat dark green leaves. It's endemic to England and Scotland, though it is very rare and considered very valuable.
Credits
Graphics References:
Banner made by the lovely Bianca Delacroix!
Plants and plant product graphics in the gallery bellow are copyright of Pottermore.
Lesson References:
Harry Potter Wikia
HP Lexicon
Pottermore
Wikipedia