1. Herbology Review
First year student

2. Lesson 1
Intro to Herbology &
Basic Equipment

3. What is Herbology & why is it
important?
 Herbology is the study of both magical and non-magical
plants. Any witch or wizard who understands both the
properties and the nature of plants is called a Herbologist.
 There are many uses for the information gained while
studying plants. You need to know the differences between
each plant, how to care for them, how to gather them in
the correct way without causing you or the plants harm as
well as the properties of both magical and non-magical
plants.
 Without studying Herbology you would not have the needed
information.

4. Basic
Equipment
The equipment you really need are:
 Protective gloves (preferably Dragon- hide).
 Ear-muffs.
 Your Wand.
 Some Dittany.
 An Apron.
 A mask of some kind to cover your face while pulling
some plants up.
 Fertilizer – Mooncalf Dung is gentler than Dragon Dung
but not as powerful.
 Drink – most plants prefer Centaur tears as it is more
nutritious than normal water. Note = Never use
Centaur tears on salt water plants - it is poisonous to
them.

5. Lesson 2
Care & use of plants in
Potions

6. Different plants need different types of care.
The different aspects that should be taken
into account when caring for plants are:
 Sunlight
 Watering
 Lifespan – This varies for all plants. They can end
up living anything from 3 years to 5000 years,
this is only when they are healthy and being
cared for properly. Trees are known to have a
long lifespan compared to other plants.
 Habitat- They are normally different for different
plants. Many plants have ended up moving from
their native habitat and have had to adapt to
their new habitat.
 Repotting - This is considered a very important
stage and a right of passage. With many plants
when they are repotting their diet will change,
and they might need a different amount of water.
 Type of soil & how deep the seeds need to go in
the ground when planting them.
Care for plants

7. Uses in potions
Plants are a major ingredient when it comes to making
potions. Most potions would not work or get the correct
effect if the plants are not added when required.
Some of the main plants used in potions are:
 Mistletoe berries/Peppermint/Knotgrass/Aconite
roots/Rose Oil/Rose thorns/Poppy heads
While many plants are used as an active ingredient in
potions some are used as fragrance only. Others are used
to simply make the potion fresh. Plants are often chosen
for medical reasons, it all depends on certain properties,
such as temperament and how toxic they are.

8. Lesson 3
Basic herbs & Fungi

9. Gillyweed
 This plant is native to the Mediterranean Sea. It
grows to between 5cms and 7cms tall.
 If somebody ate Gillyweed they would grow gills
and then webs would form between their toes &
fingers.
 Soil for Gillyweed must be kept with a P.H level
of 7.9 – 8.4. It requires water in large amounts,
and minimal sunlight. It is slimy to touch and
grows in a bushel and is a grayish-greeny colour.

10. Valerian Root
 It is native to Europe as well as parts of Asia, as well as
being found in north America since having migrated there.
Non-Magical people are aware of the Valerian root but not
aware of it’s magical capabilities.
 This plant is mostly used in sleeping potions. It’s anxiolytic
and so it is used also in calming draughts too. It is mainly
used in the draught of living death & the forgetfulness
potion. The sprig of Valerian Root is used in perfumes as it
smells of vanilla and cherry. Cats are very attracted to it.
 It can grow up to 5 feet tall and grows in clusters of small
flowers. It is best harvested in spring or in fall. To keep
Valerian Root healthy it needs at least 7 hours of sunlight
every day. It needs to be planted at 7/8ths
of an inch down in
soil with a P.H of 4.5 to 5.0.

11. Knotgrass
 This plant is native to Europe. It
grows anything from 4cms to 5cms
wide. Knotgrass is required
ingredient for the polyjuice potion, it
is also used in mead and in some
love potions. It has been used to
treat urine infections as well as
fertility problems.
 Knotgrass grows best in soil with a
P.H of neutral level. It needs loads
of water and sunlight. It blooms in
summertime with flowers that are
white, pink & green.

12. Dittany
 This can only be found growing in Greece,
Crete, although herbologists and healers can
mimic the climate in greenhouses and grow it in
them.
 Although Dittany has got romantic qualities it is
mostly used in healing ointments, for
preventing scarring, love potions, and
sometimes is used as a wand core. Dittany has
to be used in liquid form.
 For Dittany to grow properly it needs loads of
sunlight & warmth. It needs soil at the P.H level
of 6.6 to 7.3. The temperature must be at 13
degrees Celsius.

13. Lesson 4
Dangerous Plants

14. Mandrake
 Mandrake is mostly used in Sleeping potions, love potions
and in the potion to restore people who have been
petrified.
 In the olden days they would uproot the mandrake by
digging the roots up then tying a rope around the roots and
tie the rope to a dog. The dog would follow the owner
when they walked away and the plant would scream and
therefore kill the dog.
 Nowadays they have safer ways to uproot mandrakes.
They just simply wear earmuffs and then put the plant
 into a aquatandisu potion which prevents the mandrake
screaming.
 First Aid = If a person touches a mandrake, going into a
coma, you need to wash the area where it touched, and
get a healer to give them a tandisu injection. If the person
dies, there is no cure. Side effects are hallucinations, coma
and can kill with its cry.
 Also known as Mandagora, they grow mostly in European
countries. They are shaped like a parsnip with the root
looking like a very wrinkly person. The part that grows
above the ground grows to between 5 and 40cms.

15. Devil’s Snare
 It natively grows in Scotland, in the
highlands and the lowlands. It will attack
people when they are sleeping, with their
backs turned, or are already within the
devil’s snares grasp. It is quite like
quicksand in the way it sucks people in,
the more they struggle the quicker it kills them.
 To escape you need to relax, and the plant will release you,
or if able to get to your wand you could do Incendio – this
is the best method of defence against them. This plant is
usually used in assassination attempts, or as a distraction.
 There is a law in place about this plant saying that it cannot
be grown or planted within 1000 meters of anyplace
muggles go often.
 First aid = Treat them for strangulation in an emergency.
Spells that could be used are; Rennervate & Anapneo.

16. Bubotuber
 This plant is also native to Scotland. It looks like a big black
slug and when it is squeezed it releases a gassy yellow pus.
 Once the pus is diluted it can be used to get rid of acne, if
touched before being diluted it can cause rashes and burns.
 It is classed as corrosive by the non-magical people even
though they have no idea what it is.
 To grow it must be planted in the dark with the soil being
rich and not much sunlight. It is also recommended that
loads of dragon dung is used as fertilizer.
 First aid = cleanse the area for 5 minutes under clean cold
water. After this apply dittany and if needed take a pain
potion.

17. Lesson 5 – Rat Root
It is a reed like plant, a water plant and it grows to about 1
meter tall. It has a strong scent and bitter taste. It must be
watered every 2 to 3 days. The best place for this plant is
in marshes, shallow water and needs to be in the sunshine,
never in the shade.
Properties are:
 Sedative/Abortifacient
 Otalgic/Laxative/Anodyne
 Hallucinogen/ Counters hallucinogens
 Diuretic/ Cariminative
 Aphrodisiac/Anthelmintic
As it has so many properties it is used to a variety of things,
as floor covering, in healing potions, digestive potions, as
well as being used to calm people.

18. Lesson 6
Advanced Herbology

19. Bouncing bulbs
 They are purple and shaped like a bulb. It can grow as big
as a door way sometimes.
 They need enough dirt to fill a bath with a neutral P.H.
level. They prefer to have centaur tears than normal water
and like bright lit areas.
 When they are not restrained they can jump and move
about. When threatened they can be dangerous, to subdue
them there are separate ways for young and matured
bouncing bulbs.
 For young – flippendo should work to knock them
back.
 For mature – you will need to Incendio them.

20. Gurdyroot
 They look like mini onions, but they smell so it is easy to
tell them apart. They are used when warding evil off and in
similar effect potions. An example is that they ward of
Gulping Plimpies. Gurdyroot is used in the drink; the
Gurdyroot infusion.
 They live in a variety of places, as long as the soil there has
enough nutrients. They can live for a few months and they
will grow to be 15cm diameter when given enough
sunshine.

21. Aconite
 Also known as monkshood or wolfsbane. It
is a poisonous sedative, powerful even in
small doses. It’s used to slow heart rates
and to treat prickly pain on the skin.
 It grows in the wild, places such as
mountain ranges and forests that have
moderate temperatures. It does best when
in dark, fluffy soil and in shady areas, so
it’s best to plant them near trees.
 When caring for Aconite you need to always
be wearing dragon-hide protective gloves.
When harvesting outside don’t leave the
roots open as they will harm the nearby
wildlife.
 Never tend to this plant with an open
wound on your hands as if poisoned then it
will affect it. Apply the antidote straight
away and then go to the hospital.

22. Wormwood
 Wormwood is normally found in
Europe. It is wood like with roots and
leaves. It grows to be 1 to 2 meters
tall.
 Also known as absinthe, it is normally
associated with sorrow and bitterness.
Wormwood likes salty water rather
than normal water, this is believe to be
due to the bitterness of the plant.
 It is a main ingredient for the draught
of living death, used by healers to help
heal digestive disorders, as well as
used to treat insect bites, fevers, and
gall bladder.
 Properties of wormwood are; Ability to
induce sweating, stimulates
imagination, increases hunger, settles
stomach and reduces pain.

23. Lesson 7 – Non-magical plants
 It is important to notice
whether a plant is magical or
not.
 Non-magical plants tend to be
less temperamental, safer as
well as they usually do not
cause a explosion.

24. Lily Plants
 Lilies are most known for their flowers. They come
in so many different colours, shapes and sizes.
They interact well with magic, and magic will help
it grow quicker.
 They need to be planted a quarter of an inch into
the ground with soil filled with nutrients and they
need some access to sunshine, only 4 or 5 hours
though. Regularly water them as well.
 They are a plant known to attract birds. They also
provide many health benefits when dried such as
treating angina. They are also great for treating
burns and preventing scarring. Also used for
coughs, fever, stomach problems, wounds, sores,
and washing swollen areas.
 The scent from the lily plant is often used for
aromatherapy and the oil is used in anti-
depression potions.

25. English Rose
 There are also many uses medically for English
rose seeds, such as the seeds are a laxative,
treats headaches, relieves colic, coughs, dry skin,
itching in women, clears up acne, helps with grief
and insomnia, stress, prevents scurvy. When they
are eaten it helps ease colds, fevers, swelling in
puffy skin, sometimes it helps induce sleep and
regulate blood thickness.

26. English Rose
 This rose grows in both
partial and full sunshine.
It is a shrub that grows
anything from 7 to 20.
When planted it needs to
be put into soil with a P.H.
level of 5.5 to 7.0. It
needs loads of water, be
careful not to drown them
though.
 Always wear protective
dragon-hide gloves with
this plant.
The medical uses are:
•Sore throat/ Flu/ nosebleeds/
headaches/ colic/ coughs/
fevers/
•Burns/ dog bites/ chronic
finger sores/ dry skin
•Diarrhea/ kidney stones/
seeds are a laxative
•Period regulator/ anti-
depressant/ anti-inflammatory/
itching in women/ scurvy
•Clears up acne, helps with
grief, insomnia, stress,
regulate blood thickness.

27. Lesson 8
Challenges in Herbology

28. The Gardening effect
 It is called this because of the negative perception given to
herbology in the last 300 years or so. Herbology plays an
important role in both worlds, but is especially so in the
areas of medicine and healing.
 The wizarding world is not enthusiastic to fund herbology,
but potioneers have been donating money to fund more
research to further peoples understanding of plants and
their properties, only problem is this funding was limited to
only how plants are used in potions. St mungo’s also
donated but didn’t give much as they were worried of what
the public would say or do.
 It lacks candidates, most people who start studying it
further change to a different field of study such as healing
or potions. They usually end up making less money than
other people with the same amount of education as well.

29. The Alien species
 Another problem in the world of herbology is alien species,
which is plants or animals which live outside of there usual
habitat, ecosystem or geological range. This can have so
many effects on other plants.
 Invasion for example is one challenge. This is where the
seed or plant multiply in a new territory, they then adapt
to that new territory, leaving that plant to ‘take over’ the
new area.
 The plant keeps multiplying until there are so many even
the ecosystem cannot handle it.
 The hazards are; The alien plants usually need more
resources which further drains the ecosystem, it’s a major
issue especially when it is to do with water as they could
cause the ground to become too dry and cause other plants
to die out.

30. THE END!!