Dangerous Plants

 

Mandragora

More commonly known simply as the Mandrake, this plant is shaped like a parsnip, and is found mostly in European countries. Above the ground, it can grow from 5 to 40 centimeres, and resembles tobacco plants. Exposure to mandrakes can cause hallucinations and comas. The plant is used in sleeping potions, love potions, and also makes an appearance in the potion used to revive a petrified person. Along with this, the scream of a mandrake is enough to kill an adult human, and extreme care should be taken when uprooting them, along with protective measures such as dragon hide gloves and earmuffs. This fatal scream is a defence mechanism, but it only lasts until the mandrake has caused the death of a single organism. It is unknown why the plant stops are this sole fatality, but herbologists in the medieval era exploited this in unethical ways. In order to uproot a Mandragora, a herbologist would bring another animal, such as a dog to uproot the plant, and ensure that the scream killed the dog instead of the person. Once the dog died, the mandrake would cease its cries. This was a common practice, until the Aquatandisu Potion was invented in 1954, which ended the screams of the plant. The correct procedure is to wear earmuffs, while uprooting the Mandragora, then submerging it for several seconds until it stops moving. Replanting of the mandrake is impossible after contact with the potion. To re-pot an unaffected mandrake, medium to heavy soil should be used. The amount of water provided should equal 3/4ths of the plant's net weight. If someone is exposed to a Mandragora, and slips into a coma, one should wash the area of contact immediately and send for a trained healer, who will then administer a Tandisu Injection. Death caused by a mandrake's scream is irreversible.

 

Devil's Snare

Dassin Sanate grows in any dark, damp area, such as inside caves. Native to both the highlands and lowlands of Scotland, devil's snare glows a vivid green, and is easily recognisable with its moving tendrils and vines. Dassin Sanate works in a particularly vindictive way; the more one struggles, the faster the plant will subdue you, and strangle you. Devil's snare can be used in assassinations, or to protect something valuable. Although pretending to be dead, and not moving will result in the plant releasing you, spells such as Incendio or Lumos Maxima are highly recommended, and far more reliable, as the plant hates both heat and strong lights. There is no seed which can grow devil's snare, so it must be collected while alive. One method of growing devil's snare, is to collect a sample, and surround an area with light or fire, so that the plant does not spread beyond its boundaries. Today, devil's snare poses a threat to muggles, and Ministry laws have been established, prohibiting the plant from being kept or grown within 1,000 of a frequent muggle destination, such as a home or major road. The spell Anapneo can be used if a victim has choked on their own tongue, and Rennervate may be useful for unconscious victims. It is recommended that the person checked for signs of strangulation and suffocation.

 

Bubotuber

The Bubotuber greatly resembles a large, black slug. It releases a yellow pus, which can treat acne, when squeezed, however this pus must be diluted before it is safe to use. Undiluted, it can cause rashes and burns on contact with the skin; even muggles, upon discovering the fluid, have classified it as corrosive. Also found in areas of Scotland, the Bubotuber requires little sunlight, and prefers colder temperatures. The bulb should be planted in dark soil, and heavy use of dragon dung is recommended to grow a healthy specimen. To dilute the pus, it must be mixed with either Gillywater, or Dittany (in its liquid form). Upon contact with undiluted pus, the wound should be cleaned thoroughly, for up to five minutes under cold water. Dittany should then be applied, with the added option of taking a Pain Relieving Potion for comfort.