Herbology

1. First-Year Herbology
A Review
Romulus Lupin
Ravenclaw

2. Lesson 12
What is Herbology?
•Herbology is the study and use of plants, both
magical and non-magical.
•A “herbologist” is simply a person who has a
working knowledge of plants, whether they are a
professor of the subject or a recreational gardener.
• Though often looked down upon by many, the
subject of Herbology is extremely important. It is
particularly useful for individuals studying to
become potioneers or healers, given the large role
that plants play in these areas.

3. Lesson 13
Taking Precautions
•Many of the plants studied by herbologists can pose a potential threat to
either the herbologist or the public in general.
•Several items of protective clothing are typically highly recommended:
dragonhide gloves, earmuffs, closed toed shoes, an apron, and often a
mask.
•Large quantities of dittany are helpful to have, as they can help heal
many common injuries.
•Some plants are more dangerous than others; therefore, it is important
to know the dangers associated with various fauna and how to deal with
them. Often, a wand can be helpful in this, but the most important tool
an herbologist can possess is a sharp mind.

4. Lesson 14
Basic Tools
•Two kinds of fertilizer are frequently used by
herbologists:
–Dragon dung is a highly nutrient matter that is also
odorless, making it extremely useful as a fertilizer and
planting medium.
–Mooncalf dung is a gentler option to dragon dung.
Although not full of nutrients, it is particularly well suited
to sensitive plants that are located in soil that is already
nutrient-rich.

5. Lesson 15
Basic Tools
•Centaur tears are an alternative to water for plant
hydration. Though toxic to saltwater plants, they
are full of nutrients and can revive even the most
neglected of plants, provided that they can tolerate
it.
•The collection of Centaur tears is an extremely
delicate issue. Due to the protection that the
Ministry of Magic grants Centaurs, the legal
collection of their tears generally requires close ties
to a Centaur community.

6. Lesson 26
Basic Care
•There are several elements of basic care that can
influence whether or not a plant thrives. Several
things must be taken into account when first
planting:
–Soil
•Plants hail from all over the world, and naturally thrive in
various soils. Some soils may need to be “fluffier” than others,
some may need to be compact, but particular care must be
taken to make sure that plants are placed in soil with the correct
pH balance.
•An important spell in the herbologist’s arsenal is Acidious
Revealious" (ah-sid-EE-us rev-EE-lee-us). This spell will reveal
the pH level of soil in the form of white mist.

7. Lesson 27
–Depth
•The depth that a seed or cutting is planted at is
important. Failure to plant deep enough can result in
a plant not growing as well as it should, or not at all.
–Light
•As with soil, plants prefer different amounts of light.
Some plants prefer high levels of natural sunlight,
while others prefer relative darkness.
–Space
•Some plants require more room to grow and flourish
than others. For example, Bouncing Bulbs generally
require a space the size of a bathtub when they are
first planted. But more on that later!

8. Lesson 28
Repotting
•Repotting is an important stage in the life of a plant!
When a plant outgrows its container, it needs to be
transferred so that it has more space to grow and
thrive.
•Repotting is perhaps one of the more dangerous
activities in Herbology, as it requires close
proximity to some dangerous plants.
•Repotting can also temporarily alter the habits of a
plant. For instance, some plants will require more
or less food and water during the repotting phase.

9. Lesson 29
Habitats
•As previously discussed, different plants thrive in different
habitats and climates. Gillyweed, for instance, can only be
found near the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, it is important to
recreate these conditions if Gillyweed is to be cultivated.
•Plants can change habitats, adapting to new conditions.
Since ecosystems can be delicate, the introduction of a new
plant can interrupt this balance. Typically though, a plant
can only adjust to conditions similar to those that it is native
to.

10. Lesson 210
Use in Potions
•Perhaps the most common use for plants, both magical and
non-magical, is as potion ingredients.
•Plants can serve a variety of purposes in potions; they can
be used to transfer properties to the potion, such as the
hypnotic quality of Starpuffs used in a Dreamless Sleep
Potion. The majority of plants used in sleeping potions are
plants.
•Plants can also be used for more basic qualities, such as
scent or freshness. Typically, non-magical plants are
preferred for this, as there is less of a concern that they will
give unwanted qualities to the potion.

11. Lesson 211
Some plants commonly used in potions
Mistletoe Berries
Peppermint
Rose thorns
Wolfsbane
Shrivelfig
Valerian roots/sprigs

12. Lesson 312
Basic Herbs and Fungi
•There are several key herbs and fungi that
are necessary to any study of Herbology.
•Gillyweed, Valerian roots and sprigs,
Knotgrass, and Dittany are all plants that any
budding herbologist should be familiar with.
•Each has distinct properties and habitats, and
show the diversity of plants that can be
studied.

13. Lesson 313
Gillyweed
•Gillyweed, a rare herb native to the Mediterranean, prefers
soil with a pH level of between 7.9 and 8.4.
•Growing in slimy, grey-green bushels, Gillyweed needs lots
of water but very little sunlight to thrive.

14. Lesson 314
Gillyweed
•Consumption of Gillyweed by a human causes the taker to grow
gills, and webbing between the fingers and toes.
•The time that this effect lasts can vary depending on whether or
not the taker immerses themselves in fresh or salt water.
•Gillyweed can also be made into a drink known as Gillywater,
which is known to have a refreshing effect on the drinker.
•As some fans of sports and magical history may remember,
Gillyweed was used successfully by Harry Potter during the
second task of the Triwizard Tournament held at Hogwarts
during the 1994-95 school year.

15. Lesson 315
Valerian Roots and Sprigs
•Valerian root is found in Europe, Asia, and North America,
although its presence in North America is a result of
migration (see slide #7).
•Valerian root requires at least seven hours of sunlight a day,
and prefers soils with a pH level between 4.5 and 5.

16. Lesson 316
Valerian Roots and Sprigs
•Valerian root is best harvested in the fall or spring.
•Much like catnip, a non-magical plant, cats are
frequently attracted to Valerian.
•Valerian is regarded for it’s calming properties, and
is frequently used in sleeping potions.
•Like many plants, Valerian has a degree of
symbolism attached to it. Wizards, particularly in
Europe, frequently wear sprigs of Valerian during
their wedding.

17. Lesson 317
Knotgrass
•Knotgrass, native to Europe, grows in soils with a pH
ranging from 6.1 to 7.3.
•It prefers large amounts of water; while it does not
necessarily require lots of sunlight, more sunlight will result
in more and faster growth.

18. Lesson 318
Knotgrass
•Like Valerian, Knotgrass is frequently worn at
weddings. One reason for this is that Knotgrass
represents the tying of two people together. It is
also a common ingredient in many love potions.
•Knotgrass can also be used in a variety of other
potions; used by Healers to cure a number of
internal afflictions, it is also a key ingredient in
Polyjuice Potion.
•Knotgrass should be kept from animals at all costs;
its consumption can stunt their growth.

19. Lesson 319
Dittany
•Growing only on the mountainside of Crete, Greece,
Dittany is transplanted in greenhouses all across the world.
•Dittany grows in soils with a pH level between 6.6 and 7.3.
It prefers plenty of sunlight and a warm climate, and should
be only watered when the soil around it is dry.

20. Lesson 320
Dittany
•Dittany is perhaps one of the most used plants in the world.
Apart from being an ingredient in countless potions, if
liquidized and diluted it can be used to treat minor injuries.
•Dittany is generally stored in large quantities by healers,
herbologists, potioneers, parents, and people that are
particularly clumsy or subject to accidents.

21. Lesson 421
Danger Ahead!
•As previously mentioned, a number of magical plants can
pose quite a threat to an untrained witch or wizard.
•The key to dealing with these plants is in taking certain
precautions, and knowing what to do should someone fall
prey to their defensive mechanism.
•There are three dangerous plants discussed here:
–Devil’s Snare
–Bubotuber
–The Mandrake

22. Lesson 422
“Devil’s Snare, Devil’s Snare, dark and
damp you must beware.”
•Devil’s Snare, native to Scotland, is perhaps one of
the most dangerous plants that a witch or wizard (or
muggle, for that matter) can encounter.
•Growing in dark and damp areas, Devil’s Snare
forms large masses of vines and tendrils that will
seize and attempt to strangle anyone that wanders
into their reach.
•Devil’s Snare is useful for guarding places or
objects, assassinations, and for providing a
distraction against potential threats.

23. Lesson 423
Devil’s Snare

24. Lesson 424
Devil’s Snare
•Devil’s Snare can be combated in several ways. When first seized by
the tentacle-like vines, one should resist the urge to struggle. Doing so
will only cause the vines to constrict.
•Relaxing the body tricks the plant into believing that the person is dead
or unconscious, and as a result they will drop it.
•Devil’s Snare also avoids heat and light. Therefore, the spells Incendio
and Lumos (especially variants such as Lumos Maxima) can be used to
beat back the plant.
•A victim of Devil’s Snare should be treated for strangulation or
suffocation if the attack was prolonged enough to render them
unconscious.

25. Lesson 425
Devil’s Snare
•Unlike most plants, there is no seed for
Devil’s Snare. To plant it, a cutting must be
obtained from a living plant.
•Due to the threat that Devil’s Snare poses,
the Ministry of Magic has decreed that it may
not be planted within ten hundred meters of
a place frequented by muggles.

26. Lesson 426
Bubotuber
•Resembling a giant black slug,
the Bubotuber is also native
to Scotland.
•Bubotubers are filled with a
caustic yellow pus that, when
undiluted, can cause rashes
and burns.
•The wound should be first
washed with cold water, and
then treated with Dittany.
Additionally, a potion may be
taken to treat the pain caused
by the wounds.

27. Lesson 427
Bubotuber
•When diluted with Essence of Dittany or
Gillywater, Bubotuber pus is relatively safe
and can be used for aesthetic purposes. A
common use is the treatment of acne.
•Bubotubers typically grow in nutrient rich
soil. They require little sunlight and can
stand cold climates, and lots of dragon dung
fertilizer helps promote growth.

28. Lesson 428
The Mandrake
•Mandrakes are an odd
plant, approaching the line
between plants and
humans perhaps more
closely than any other.
•Native to Europe, they
look like parsnips or
carrots with roots that look
like human beings.

29. Lesson 429
The Mandrake
•The primary danger of Mandrakes is their defense
mechanism. The scream of an uprooted Mandrake causes
death, which is why earmuffs are essential around them!
•Once the scream of a Mandrake has caused one death, the
screaming will stop; alternatively, it can be stopped by
dunking the uprooted plant in a potion first concocted by
Amaradus Spencer in 1954.
•Mandrakes are essential ingredients in several potions, most
notably a potion that revives someone that has been
petrified.

30. Lesson 530
Rat Root
•Rat root is a reed-like plant,
possessing qualities that make it
useful for potions meant to treat
pain and sleep problems.
•Rat root requires lots of sunlight
and water! It primarily grows
around the edges of water
bodies, and thus if it is planted
in a greenhouse it should be
watered very frequently.

31. Lesson 531
Rat Root
•Rat root has many qualities that make it useful in multiple
kinds of potions. For instance, it can be used to aid
digestion, to relieve pain, to sooth the throat, and to cure
diseases affecting the eyes, ears, or other extremities.
•Rat root is also a sedative and hallucinogen, making it useful
in sleeping potions.
•Caution: Rat root is an abortifacient, and as such
should not be used to treat pregnant women!

32. Lesson 632
Plants Requiring Advanced Care
•Several useful plants require advanced care,
or extreme caution. The four discussed in
the first year of Herbology are as follows:
–Bouncing Bulbs
–Aconite
–Gurdyroot
–Wormwood

33. Lesson 633
Bouncing Bulbs
•As their name suggests,
bouncing bulbs are bulb-
shaped plants, purple in
color, with small green
leaves, resembling
eggplant.
•Bouncing bulbs require
lots of space when
planting; they prefer a soil
with a neutral pH, lots of
sunlight, and Centaur
tears.

34. Lesson 634
Bouncing Bulbs
•The danger in bouncing bulbs lies in their defensive
mechanism. As their name implies, they are locomotive
plants that will hurl themselves at anyone (and anyone) they
believe to be a threat.
•The bulbs, though small to start with, can grow as large as a
doorway.
•Two spells are useful for dealing with bouncing bulbs:
Flipendo and Incendio.
•A result of their defensive mechanism is that bouncing bulbs
are excellent plants for guarding a perimeter against
unwanted guests.

35. Lesson 635
Aconite
•Aconite, also called
Wolbsbane or
Monkshood, is highly
poisonous. It grows in the
wild, usually in locations
with moderate
temperature.
•Aconite prefers dark,
nutritious, fluffy soil, and
shady areas such as around
the base of trees.

36. Lesson 636
Aconite
•Aconite is highly poisonous, and thus care should
be taken around it.
•Large doses can be fatal almost instantly, and
smaller doses should be treated quickly to prevent
the spread of symptoms.
•It was traditionally used to poison arrows or other
projectile weapons; when harvesting in the wild, the
entire plant should be removed to prevent
unsuspecting animals from consuming it.

37. Lesson 637
Gurdyroot
•Gurdyroots are most
similar in appearance
to onions…however,
their foul stench makes
them easy to
distinguish.
•Because of this odor,
gurdyroots are believed
to ward off particularly
unsavory creatures.

38. Lesson 638
Gurdyroot
•Particular care must be taken when planting gurdyroots.
•While they can tolerate a range of soils, provided it is
nutritious, and a range of sunlight and water levels, the most
important part of growing gurdyroots is space.
•Gurdyroots need space roughly 7 1/2 times the size of the
bulbs.
•Additionally, bugs have a habit of attacking gurdyroots, and
as a result they should be protected if they are cultivated.

39. Lesson 639
Wormwood
•Wormwood is a bitter
herb, native to Europe,
that has wood-like
roots.
•Wormwood prefers
salt water, which some
believe is connected to
its bitter taste.

40. Lesson 640
Wormwood
•Wormwood is relatively versatile; an
ingredient in the Draught of Living Death, it
can also be used to treat digestive problems.
•Additionally, leaves taken from wormwood
can be applied topically to treat pain
associated with bites or other external
wounds.

41. Lesson 741
Non-Magical Plants
•Sometimes referred to as “mundane plants,”
non-magical plants have an important place
in Herbology and Potions.
•Lilies and roses are perhaps two of the most
common non-magical plant species that are
used for potions and herbal remedies.
•Peppermint, orchids, coco, and vanilla are
also commonly used.

42. Lesson 742
Non-Magical Plants
•The lack of magical properties in these plants gives
them several advantages in potions. For instance,
there is less of a possibility of them imparting an
unwanted quality to the resulting concoction.
•Herbs such as peppermint are often used to make a
potion taste and/or smell better without any
residual effects.
•The history of muggle herbal medicine shows how
useful non-magical plants can be in wizarding
society.

43. Lesson 843
Challenges in Herbology
•By now, it should be relatively evident that
Herbology is an extremely important subject,
despite what some critics say.
•As with any subject, Herbology has its share of
problems and controversies.
•One of these issues is commonly referred to as the
“Gardening Effect,” and it continues to be a thorn
in the side of herbologists worldwide.

44. Lesson 844
The Gardening Effect
•Put simply, the Gardening Effect is the belief
that the study of plants and their properties is
rather mundane and unimportant. This
stems from the belief that the natural world
is not as full of wonder and awe as some
believe it to be.
•Unfortunately, this belief is rather a
hindrance to the study of Herbology.

45. Lesson 845
The Gardening Effect
•Herbology is no longer as well respected as it once was.
Due to this, the field loses out on a lot of funding that would
help further the field.
•While some recognize that a strong foundation in
Herbology is essential to the field of Potions, this takes the
emphasis off of the strict field of Herbology and places it on
other fields which draw from it, such as Potions and
Healing.
•Additionally, the field of Herbology loses many intelligent
witches and wizards to other “more important” fields, given
the negative stereotypes.

46. Lesson 846
Invasive Species
•The possibility of plants moving from one habitat to
another has already been briefly touched on.
•Invasive species primarily take over an ecosystem
through three steps:
–The plant makes its way into a new habitat, either
through natural forces or intentional such as
transplantation;
–The plant adapts to the new environment; and
–The plant takes over the ecosystem.

47. Lesson 847
Invasive Species
•Ecosystems are delicate; as a result, invasive species
often have a habit of overturning this balance.
•Invasive species often have no naturally-occurring
predator; thus, it is easy for them to establish a
strong base in an area before the ecosystem can
catch up.
•Invasive species can often be the cause (or
contribute heavily to) floods, fires, loss of arable
land, and the extinction of other plants or animals.

48. 48
Conclusion
This concludes a review of the material covered in Year One of
Herbology. While perhaps not exceedingly detailed, this course
provides a strong background for the continuation of studies in
following years. As with any class, a strong foundation in the basics
is necessary before the subject can be tackled with any degree of
complexity. There will be some crossover with other classes, such
as Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, but that is to be
expected with any material.