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Archive for August 14th, 2012

Alchemilla leaf with water droplets

Plant names, alchemy and Alchemilla

Posted on August 14th, 2012 by Editor Pat Heslop-Harrison

Plant names often have an interesting history behind them: I came across Alchemilla while looking up a plant I photographed at the weekend. Thinking about the names often helps with remembering them, and also gives insight into the history of the species. Earlier in the year, we discussed the naming of a species after Professor [...]

Pharmacopoeia Shakespeariensis

Posted on August 14th, 2012 by Nigel Chaffey

Continuing the ethnobotanical theme of previous posts, another great source of information regarding folk uses of plants is the writings of the Bard of Avon, England’s very own quillmeister, William Shakespeare. Take, for example, this line from Hamlet (Act 4, Scene V); Ophelia (to Laertes), ‘There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance…’ . Old wives’ tale, or [...]