Jess Reviews: Wicked Plants
There is a misguided wellness trend at the moment which is once again rearing its ugly head: equating a product’s ‘naturalness’ with its goodness and efficacy. At times like these, it’s worth a reminder that something being natural is absolutely no guarantee that it won’t kill you horribly.
Amy Stewart’s ‘Wicked Plants: An A-Z of Plants That Kill, Maim, Intoxicate and Otherwise Offend’ certainly does that. From plants you’re likely to find on a typical woodland walk, to those you’d have to travel halfway around the world to see, this book chronicles both the plants and the stories associated with them. Each plant has an entry containing key information – its scientific name, habitat, common names – and is accompanied by beautiful etchings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs. The rest of the entry provides some history to go along with it, including stories of their use and, often, the tragic consequences.
Be it Socrates poisoned by hemlock or the strychnine serial killer, plants have been used to wreak havoc across history, being taken advantage of for their most nefarious properties. There is a tendency to underestimate the harm which plants can do to us, not even by being consumed but merely by being touched: sap from the leaves of English Ivy can blister the skin, and ‘tulip finger’ is an occupational hazard for florists. But not all the tales are of plant-on-person crimes. For example, there’s the story of the invasive cogon grass – an accidentally introduced invasive species which ended up as a ‘Day of the Triffids’ scenario for the US South’s native plant life. The plant is highly flammable, burning away the competition and spreading, quite literally, like wildfire.
If any of these anecdotes have piqued your curiosity, this might be the book for you. I asked for this cheery book as a Christmas gift and I have no regrets. It’s very easy to dip in and out of and has provided many a topic for further reading. It’s also a great counterpoint and companion to books on the medicinal powers of herbs, as a sobering reminder of the importance of caution and careful research in our interactions with the natural world. Just as those on the coast know to beware rip tides, ‘Plants deserve the same kind of guarded respect. They can nourish and heal, but they can also destroy.’ Certainly, after reading this book, I’ll never undercook a potato again.
Request the book here.