Prestigious Plants - Papaveraceae 03 - Bleeding Heart

Plant Indices

• Alphabetical Index (Genera)
• Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
• Cladistic Index

BLEEDING HEART (Lamprocapnos)
Family: Papaveraceae
Species: Lamprocapnos spectabilis (syn. Dicentra spectabilis)

Bleeding Heart, 11th of May, 2008.
Own work--Wuzur.

Names: 

• Bleeding Heart
• Ama No Dangō [Japanese]
• Asian Bleeding Heart
• Berkendes Herz [German]
• Bluszczyk [Polish]
• Broken Heart
• Chǎn Xiāng Sù [Chinese]
• Cheonhaji [Korean]
• Coeur De Marie [French]
• Corazón De María [Spanish]
• Corazón Sangrante [Spanish]
• Cuore Sanguinante [Italian]
• Dancing Ladies
• Dicentra [Dutch/French]
• Dicentra [French]
• Ducat [Dutch]
• Dukatki [Polish]
• Dutchman's Breeches
• Dutchman's Trousers
• Fang Mai Hua [Mandarin]
• Fløyelsblomst [Norwegian]
• Gebroken Hartje [Dutch]
• Gebroken Hartjes [Dutch]
• Gebrochenes Herz [German]
• Geum Nang Hwa [Korean]
• Geumsimcho [Korean]
• Gold Bag Flower
• Heart Flower
• Hébāo Mǔdān [Chinese]
• Herz-Tränendes Herz [German]
• Herzenblume [German]
• Hjärta [Swedish]
• Hjärtblomma [Swedish]
• Hjerteblomst [Danish]
• Hongdoulian [Mandarin]
• Hung Dau Lin [Cantonese]
• Jomfru I Bad [Norwegian]
• Jomfruhjerter [Danish]
• Jungfru Maria's Hjärta [Swedish]
• Kembang Hati [Indonesian]
• Kewaringin [Javanese]
• Ki-Kikeman [Japanese]
• Lady In A Bath
• Lady-in-the-bath
• Lady's Locket
• Liemannshjerte [Norwegian]
• Locks And Keys
• Løjtnantshjerte [Danish]
• Lyre Flower
• Lýrovka [Czech]
• Lýrovka Srdcovitá [Slovak]
• Murtunut Sydän [Finnish]
• Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart
• Our-Lady-in-a-Boat
• Pikkusydän [Finnish]
• Purse Peony
• Serce [Polish]
• Serce Okazałe [Polish]
• Serduszka [Polish]
• Serduszka Okazała [Polish]
• Showy Bleeding Heart
• Sintai-sou [Japanese]
• Spektakuläre Herzblume [German]
• Spectaculaire Dicentra [French]
• Srdcovka [Czech]
• Srdcovka Nádherná [Czech]
• Srdcovka Spectabilis [Slovak]
• Sumirehōzuki [Japanese]
• Särkynyt Sydän [Finnish]
• Szívvirág [Hungarian]
• Taitsurisō [Japanese]
• Tørkepigekys [Danish]
• Torstendes Herzen [German]
• Trædendes Hjerte [Danish]
• Tränende Herzen [German]
• Tränendes Herz [German]
• Venus's Car
• Vrouwenhart [Dutch]
• Yě Dié Xiān Cǎo [Chinese]
• Yu Hung Fa [Cantonese]
• Yu Xin Cao [Mandarin]
• Yuhonghua [Mandarin]

Distribution: 

• Asia, East: China (Manchuria), Korea

Physical Description
This is the only species of the genus, a flowering plant that grows up to 120cm (47in) tall by 45cm (18in) wide. This plant has distinctive hanging flowers with a pair of large fuschia-pink petals that resemble a heart or some other vessel, and two inner petals that are white that, together, make a drop-like or vaguely human shape. The flowers bloom in spring, and may go dormant in the summer.

This plant loves shade and tends to grow in rock crevices at low altitudes.

Bleeding heart from a park in London, England, 19th of April, 2017.
Photograph by Emőke Dénes.

Symbolism

Good Fortune
The common Chinese name for this plant is hébāo mǔdān (“purse peony”). It is so named because the flowers resemble a hébāo, or “propitious pouch,” a variety of traditional Chinese good luck charm. The “peony” in the name is because the plant’s leaves resemble those of the tree peony (mǔdān/moutan). The symbolism is much the same in Korea, where it is called “gold bag flower” (geum nang hwa). In both China and Korea it is seen as an auspicious sign at New Years celebrations.

Jade Maiden Si Jun
The legend of Si Jun is the tale of a virtuous and faithful young woman fending off countless suitors and remaining true to her love, a young soldier. Si Jun’s name means “thinks-of-her-lord,” and she was modeled on the minor deity Yunü. Her secret lover was posted along the Great Wall for 2 years, unable to communicate with her, despite the many letters she sent him and gifts she sent. She relieved her yearning by embroidering purse charms and hanging them on the tree peony outside her window. She was so skilled at crafting these that the butterflies and bees were tricked and attempted to pollinate. The tree was soon covered with so many magnificent embroidered flowers that the tree seemed in full bloom despite being out of season. The immortals, in recognition of her patience and fidelity, transformed her tree peony into a brand-new plant, with blooms in imitation of her charms. For these reasons this flower is a quintessential love token, with the same romantic connotations as the [rose] does in Europe. Even today the offer of a bleeding heart in China may be interpreted by some as a proposal of marriage.

Japanese Symbolism
The Japanese name taitsurisō translates as “sea bream fishing rod,” due to the resemblance of the flowers to small fish clasping even smaller fish in their jaws. Like with the purse identification in China and Korea, this fish-eating-fish imagery is an auspicious sign heavily associated with the New Years celebrations.

Victorian Flower Language
Per Greenaway, the bleeding heart indicates that one is putting their heart on their sleeve and can double as an invitation with the meaning “fly with me.”

Close-up of a bleeding heart blossom upside-down, revealing the "lady-in-the-bath"
From photographer's garden, 18th of May, 2013.
Own work--Holger Casselmann.

Culture
This plant has been cultivated for ornamental purposes for so long in Northeast Asia that it’s basically impossible to determine its actual native range.

Medical
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

This plant has a history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Its medicinal qualities under that system were identified as pungent, bitter, and warm. It was thought to restore jing to the liver.

Painkiller
This plant was taken as a painkiller.

Detox
The root was taken orally to detoxify the body.

Wounds and Sores
Was used topically to treat sores, bruises, and swellings, and eaten to treat mouth sores.

Circulation
Thought to improve circulation of blood.

GI Issues
Root taken orally to treat abdominal pain and flatulence.

Poison
Overdose is possible, causing tingling paresthesias on topical overdose, and oral consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and in extreme cases respiratory failure and cardiac paralysis. Below these dangerous levels, the alkaloid protopine can cause confusion and irritability.

This plant resembles the Korean radish, and occasionally gets mistaken for such, resulting in poisonings.

Korean radish, 5th of Dec, 2011.
Photo by Lee Sun-Deok, at blog.naver.com.

Compiler Notes

• The plant's medicinal use as a painkiller might overlap with the notion of love as a balm to suffering. While this may be read as a positive, this could easily be employed as a reagent in manipulative charms. 
• Paired with opium in a love charm, the target might become addicted to a false love and subject to serious withdrawal symptoms.
• Conflating the purse and fish-eating-fish interpretations and recasting them as malefic, the bleeding heart can be an emblem of greed or lust consuming innocence (the white figure in the middle).
• In a malevolent charm, the heart-devouring-woman read we just described could be used to turn the target's affection for another into a toxic obsession.
• The poison symptoms would also be great for manifestation of a toxic love charm: confusion, irritability, and finally paralysis of the heart.
• The lady-in-a-bath interpretation can be used for purification of the self. Might be employed in substitution of ritual purification requirements in a pinch.
•  The bleeding heart might be used as an actual purse by a faerie character.
• Under the name "tree peony," it's worth exploring the relationship to [peony] and to tree.
• The name "Dutchman's Breeches" is obviously sexually suggestive. Further, the "pouch" and "purse" names may be references to testicles. 
• The name "Lock and Key" also has an obvious sexual dimension. However, if we don't allow ourselves to get stuck on that, this flower enters the domain of security magic. It may be used as a reagent for locking and unlocking things, Consider its use for opening doors at a distance.

Image Refs

[Img 01 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dicentra-spectabilis.jpg ]

[Img 02 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculales_-_Lamprocapnos_spectabilis_-_4.jpg ]

[Img 03 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dicentra_spectabilis_HC2.JPG ]

[Img 04 - https://blog.naver.com/bizinfo1357/40146307080 ]

* * * * * * *

See Also:

• Plants
• Flowers
• Trees
• Ferns
• Moss and Lichen [Pending]
• Fungi [Pending]
• Cladistic Index
• Herbal Medicine [Pending]
• Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]

• Lardizabalaceae
• Chocolate Vine
• Dead Man's Fingers
• Papaveraceae
• Bleeding Heart
• Celandine
• Fumitory
• Poppy
• Ranunculaceae
• Adonis/Anemone/Pasque
• Buttercup/Crowfoot
• Clematis
• Columbine
• Coptis
• Hellebore
• Hepatica
• Larkspur
• Love in a Mist
• Monkshood/Wolfsbane

* * * * * * *

-Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. George Routleage and Sons. 

( https://www.secretflowerlanguage.com/ ) - DEFUNCT
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprocapnos )

Name assistance provided by Claude 3.5 Sonnet.

Prestigious Plants - Papaveraceae 02 - Fumitory

Plant Indices

• Alphabetical Index (Genera)
• Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
• Cladistic Index

FUMITORY (Fumaria)
Family: Papaveraceae
Species: Fumaria officinalis (syn. Fumaria densiflora)

Fumaria officinalis, 5th of April, 2009.
Own work--Luis Nunes Alberto.

Names: 

• Fumitory
• Aardrook [Dutch]
• Aaronovo Brada [Slovak]
• Aisge [Basque]
• Arjangoitxi [Basque]
• Běžný Zemědým [Czech]
• Beggary [Scots]
• Blodurt [Danish/Norwegian]
• Běžný Zemědým [Czech]
• Carro De Venus [Spanish]
• Common Fumewort
• Common Fumitory
• Conínelo [Galician]
• Conringia [Dutch]
• Drug Fumitory
• Dūmu Zāle [Latvian]
• Duiven Kervel [Dutch]
• Duivekervel [Dutch]
• Earthsmoke
• Echte Erdrauch [German]
• Erdrauch [German]
• Erdraute [German]
• Erva Moleirinha [Portuguese]
• Fermissel [Breton]
• Foempe [Frisian]
• Fumaria [Italian/Portuguese/Spanish]
• Fumaria Maior [Portuguese]
• Fumaria Medicinal [Spanish]
• Fumária-Da-Terra [Portuguese]
• Fumária-Maior [Portuguese]
• Fumária-Oficinal [Portuguese]
• Fumaaria [Finnish]
• Fumeterre [French]
• Fumeterre Officinale [French]
• Fumewort
• Fumisterre [French]
• Fumiterre [French]
• Fumišķe [Latvian]
• Fumosterno [Italian]
• Fumuşiţă [Romanian]
• Furmeterre [Norman French]
• Fursterre [French]
• Galinha Gorda [Portuguese]
• Gemeiner Erdrauch [German]
• Gewöhnlicher Erdrauch [German]
• Harilik Punand [Estonian]
• Iksuvu [Basque]
• Jordreg [Danish]
• Jordrök [Swedish]
• Jordrøyk [Norwegian]
• Kapnos [Greek]
• Katkeruoho [Finnish]
• Katzenkörbel [German]
• Kłosowa Dymnica [Polish]
• Konopnica [Polish]
• Köpekişnemsi [Turkish]
• Kwitniec [Polish]
• Kyrkhespur [Swedish]
• Läkerölleka [Swedish]
• Lékařský Zemědým [Czech]
• Mărărel [Romanian]
• Matrem [Hungarian]
• Medicinal Fumitory
• Mētra [Latvian]
• Negakin [Basque]
• Obecný Zemědým [Czech]
• Paloma [Spanish]
• Palomilla [Spanish]
• Palomina [Spanish]
• Palomurid [Estonian]
• Palomuroho [Finnish]
• Palonilla [Spanish]
• Peumo [Mapudungun]
• Polni Rutica [Slovenian]
• Pombinha [Portuguese]
• Rautengewächs [German]
• Reykjurt [Icelandic]
• Rezeda [Hungarian]
• Rohtoemadyr [Estonian]
• Rookwortel [Dutch]
• Rutica [Croatian]
• Sanguinária [Portuguese]
• Sanhoen [Korean]
• Şahtere [Turkish]
• Sangra [Galician]
• Sangre De Cristo [Spanish]
• Smoke Weed
• Taubenknöterich [German]
• Taubenkropf [German]
• Tavasztüdőfű [Hungarian]
• Usos Belar [Basque]
• Zapaliczka [Polish]
• Zemědým [Czech]
• Zemědým Lékařský [Czech]
  
• Zemni Dym [Czech]
• Zemsky Dym [Russian]
• Zemēsta [Latvian]

Genus Distribution: Native to Europe, Africa, Asia.
Species Distribution: 

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
• Asia, Northern: Russia (North Caucasus)
• Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan
• Europe, Eastern: Bulgaria, Romania
• Europe, Southern: Albania, Greece (including East Aegean Islands), Italy (including Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (including Balearic Islands)
• Europe, Western: Belgium, France

Biome: Temperate

Physical Description
Genus of flowering annuals, with its highest species concentration around the Mediterranean.

Most common Fumaria species in Central and Western Europe. It is an herbaceous annual that grows 10-50cm (3.9-19.7in) long. We say “long” because it is only weakly erect and has a scrambling habit.

Its flowers are pink and 7-9mm long, blooming from April to October in the Northern Hemisphere, except the UK where it blooms May to September. Plant has 20-60 flowers per spike.

Fumaria officinalis, 22nd April, 2021.
Own work--Didier Descouens (User: Archaeodontosaurus).

Symbolism
Fumaria comes from the 13th century Latin fumus terrae, “smoke of the earth.” This is because the petals of the flowers are partially translucent, and the slight grey-blue of their foliage, especially after morning dew. Both Dioscorides (De Materia Medica) and Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia) relayed that the sap or latex of the plant causes tears, like acrid smoke, which is likely the origin of the 13th century name fumus terrae. The Greeks called it kapnos.

The “fumewort” name now mostly applies to Corydalis (especially C. solida), which closely resembles Fumaria. The two genera were once thought one.

Victorian Flower Language
Per Greenaway it conveys the notion of "spleen," an archaism for spite, ill-temper, or hatred. 

Medical
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

Though this plant has been known since antiquity, evidence of its medical use only goes back to the late Middle Ages. It has been marketed as an herbal medicine in France since 1963, and today, products made with fumitory are sold in Austria, Germany, France, and Spain (though under EU regulations, its legal status is in question).

Eyes
In the 17th century, it was publicized as good for the eyes (presumably by purification) due to remarks by Dioscorides, Pliny, and later Olivier de Serres that the sap/latex caused excessive tearing. Even today in Britain it is used as an eyewash to treat conjunctivitis.

Cardiovascular Health
Used to treat arteriosclerosis and as a “blood purifier.”

Blood Sugar
Used as a treatment for hypoglycemia.

GI Health
One of this plant’s most common uses was to aid in digestion and treat constipation. In Austria used for treatment of dyskinesia of the bile duct. There is limited evidence that it modifies abnormal bile flow in animals. Its use against IBS is questionable.

UT Health
Fumitory is a diuretic, a kidney cleanser, and a treatment for cystitis.

Joint Health
Used as a treatment for rheumatism and arthritis.

Antimicrobial
Used to treat infections, including skin blemishes (this use was pronounced in Siciliy).

Poison
Despite claims by Michael Howard in his 1987 book Traditional Folk Remedies that the plant is poisonous, the European Union has no records of safety issues with fumitory products as of 2011, when they started recording. Fumitory contains protopine, which can cause excitation and convulsions in animals. No studies on safety of use with pregnant women, children, or the elderly.

Storage jar for Fumitory Water (1640-1660), Latin inscreaption reads: "Smoke Water".
From Deruta, Perugia, Umbria, Italy.
Provided by Wellcome Images.
Library ref: Science Museum A17900; Photo #: L0057089.

Compiler Notes

• Because of its origins in the Latin for “earth smoke,” this flower should be used in association with smoke, fire, pyroclastic forces, and Hell. This can be used in the malefic, with the magician carrying Hell with them into the world by the flower or the acrid latex. Alternately, this might be benefic in the hands of the abjuror, performing "Hell has come to take you back."
• Per Pliny the Elder's conjecture about earthquakes being caused by winds trapped in the earth, fumitory might be an excellent reagent for earthquake spells.
• Because of its use as an eye treatment, it could be used to break charms that cloud the vision and impose false impressions directly (in D&D terms: charm person vs. disguise self).
• Could also be used to disabuse people of their biases. Dramatic opportunity for it to do the same to the caster of the spell, granting an unpleasant insight into the log in their eye as they try to remove the splinter from another.
• Blending together the use as eye treatment with Pliny's conjecture, this plant might be used to treat earthy blockages elsewhere with the power of fire and wind. This would be a convenient magical explanation for its effectiveness against the symptoms of arthritis, GI issues, etc., etc. One might be able to magically improve cardiovascular health by using earthsmoke to break up clots (though this use might come with great risk of heart attack or stroke as a sort of cardio-earthquake). One well practiced in this use might be able to push this to "blood-boiling" rage with minimal risk.
• The idea that you could store smoke in water isn't exactly crazy, as cool, still water can retain a lot of gas in solution and release it when disturbed. Fumaria might be used as a carrier reagent for other fumigants, enabling one to lock the gasses in water or oil.

Image Refs

[Img 01 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fumaria.jpg ]

[Img 02 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:(MHNT)_Fumaria_officinalis_-_Habit.jpg ]

[Img 03 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Storage_jar_used_for_Fumitory_Water,_Italy,_1640-1660_Wellcome_L0057089.jpg ]

Fumaria bastardii.
From iNaturalist, uploaded by aroche.

Names:

• Bastard Fumitory
• Bâtarde Fumeterre [French]
• Climbing Fumitory
• Dense-flowered Fumitory
• Fumária Bastarda [Portuguese]
• Fumeterre De Bastard [French]
• Greater Fumitory
• Large-flowered Fumitory
• Tall Fumitory
• Tall Ramping Fumitory
• Thick-flowered Fumitory
• Thickfruit Fumitory
• Unechter Erdrauch [German]

Distribution: 

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
• Europe, Southern: Greece (including Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (including Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Portugal (including Azores, Madeira), Spain (including Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)
• Europe, Western: England, France, Ireland, Scottland, Wales
• Asia, Western: Lebanon, Syria

Physical Description
Tall flowering plant reaching up to 2m. It is a weed on arable land.

Symbolism
The name “bastard’s fumitory” is likely related to its weed-like habit on farmland, functionally a parasite, a blemish on the “family” of the farmer’s field.

Compiler Notes

• Blending together the “bastard” meaning with the plant’s relative magnificence/standing out (2m tall) and being a ground-smoke, it’s easy to syncretize with the infernal imagery of the plant. Perhaps it could be tied to cambions or other forms of changelings. Lots to do with this one.

Image Refs

[Img 04 - https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/12889957 ]

Fumaria muralis, 19th of Feb, 2018.
Own work--Anne5578.

Names:

• Common Ramping Fumitory
• Fumária-Das-Muralhas [Portuguese]
• Fumária-Das-Paredes [Portuguese]
• Fumaria De Los Muros [Spanish]
• Fumeterre Des Murs [French]
• Fumiterra [Galician]
• Fumitoria [Galician]
• Fumitória-das-paredes [Portuguese]
• Mauer-Erdrauch [German]
• Mur Jordrøg [Danish]
• Mural Fumitory
• Murronurmikohokki [Finnish]
• Muurfumaria [Dutch]
• Palomita [Spanish]
• Palomilla De Muro [Spanish]
• Pe De Galiña [Galician]
• Ramping Fumitory
• Rankende Erdrauch [German]
• Wall Fumitory

Distribution: Temperate and Mediterranean regions; 

• Africa, Northern: Morocco
• Europe, Northern: Norway
• Europe, Southern: Portugal (including Azores, Madeira, Selvagens), Spain (including Canary Islands)
• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Scottland, Wales

Biome: Temperate and Mediterranean 

Physical Description
Annual with erect, many-branched stems up to 1m (39.4in) that transition to a crawling or climbing habit. Its flowers are pink-petaled with dark red or purple tips, with ~12 flowers per inflorescence.

This is a weed of pastures, roadsides, gardens, footpaths, coastal shrubland, and disturbed areas.

Compiler Notes

• Retained for names and distribution.

Image Refs

[Img 06 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fumaria_muralis_ca-02.jpg ]

Fumaria parviflora.
Taken from florapal.org, attributed to Ori Fragman.

Names:

• Indian Fumitory
• Chatra [Hindi]
• Conejillos [Spanish]
• Fainorifu Fyumitori [Japanese]
• Fineflower Fumitory
• Fineleaf Fumitory
• Fumaria-Da-India [Portuguese]
• Fumaria-De-Flor-Miuda [Portuguese]
• Fumaria-Menor [Portuguese]
• Fumaria-De-Flor-Pequena [Spanish]
• Fumaria Minore [Italian]
• Fumeterre D'inde [French]
• Fumeterre A Petites Fleurs [French]
• Fumitoria-das-flores-pequenas [Portuguese]
• Karchurai [Hindi]
• Kasturi [Bengali]
• Kseh [Arabic]
• Khetpapra [Hindi]
• Kleinblutige Erdrauch [German]
• Kleinblutiger Erdrauch [German]
• Krishnakranthi [Sanskrit]
• Krafig Jordrok [Swedish]
• Mararas [Romanian]
• Munequita [Spanish]
• Palomilla Fina [Spanish]
• Palomilla Menuda [Spanish]
• Palomilla Morada [Spanish]
• Papraa [Hindi]
• Parpata [Sanskrit]
• Parpataka [Sanskrit]
• Pitpapada [Hindi/Marathi]
• Pitpapra [Hindi]
• Pitpaprada [Hindi]
• Pittapaparo [Gujarati]
• Shahtara [Hindi/Persian/Urdu]
• Shahatra [Hindi/Persian]
• Shahtra [Hindi]
• Shahtraj [Arabic]
• Shotara [Bengali]
• Smallflower Fumitory
• Tara [Bengali]
• Tare Maki [Japanese]
• Tahtisavurouho [Finnish]
• Tukhme Shahtara [Persian]
• Turan-Pittapapado [Gujarati]
• Unani Pitpapra [Hindi]
• Yan Zi Cao [Chinese]
• Zemedym Malokvety [Czech]

Distribution:

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
• Asia, South: Afghanistan, Pakistan
• Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Yemen
• Europe, Central: Germany, Hungary
• Europe, Eastern: Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine
• Europe, Southern: Greece (including Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (including Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Portugal (including Madeira), Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (including Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)
• Europe, Western: Belgium, France

Compiler Notes

• Retained for names and distribution.

Image Refs

[Img 07 - https://florapal.org/plant/fumaria-parviflora/ ]

Fumaria purpurea in a hedge at Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK.
29th of April, 2007.
Own work--Alex Lockton.

Names:

• Purple Fumitory
• Fumária-Púrpura [Portuguese]
• Fumeterre Pourpre [French]
• Purple Ramping Fumitory
• Purpur Jordrök [Swedish]
• Purpurfarbener Erdrauch [German]
• Purpurfumaria [German]

Distribution:

• Europe, Western: England, Ireland, Scottland, Wales

Physical Description
A sprawling or climbing plant with stems up to 2m long. The stems are brittle and exude a white sap when broken. Regularly found growing through hedges.

The inflorescence commonly comes with 15-24 flowers that are on short, recurved stalks. This strong bent-back habit and the purplish flowers are the primary means of identifying this species.

Compiler Notes

• Do something with groundsmoke growing through hedges. Possibly connect to the royal qualities of purple being found at the boundary/fringe?
• "Royal Groundsmoke" might be used in conjunction with other magical coronation features. Given the plant's distribution around the British Isles, it might appear around devices such as the Stone of Destiny (Lia Fáil) of Ireland, which roars when the (right and proper) new king steps upon it.

Image Refs

[Img 08 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fumaria_purpurea.jpg ]

Fumaria capreolata.
Own work--Alvesgaspar.

Names:

• White Ramping Fumitory
• Białe Serduszka [Polish]
• Biela Zemedym [Slovak]
• Bryd-Y-Brain [Welsh]
• Climbing Fumitory
• Conejito De Los Vallados [Spanish]
• Conejitos [Spanish]
• Fumaria Bianca [Italian]
• Fumaria Blanca [Portuguese/Spanish]
• Fumária-Das-Paredes [Portuguese]
• Fumária-Maior [Portuguese]
• Fumeterre Blanche [French]
• Fumeterre Grimpante [French]
• Fumiterra Bianca [Italian]
• Gallinita [Spanish]
• Gallitos [Spanish]
• Gatunha [Portuguese]
• Greater Ramping Fumitory
• Herba Dona [Catalan]
• Herbe À La Veuve [French]
• Palomilla [Spanish]
• Palomilla Blanca [Spanish]
• Palomina [Spanish]
• Rampterrøyk [Norwegian]
• Ramping Fumitory
• Sangre De Cristo [Spanish]
• Trepadora [Spanish]
• White Climbing Fumitory
• White Fumitory
• Whiteflower Fumitory
• Wit Duivekervel [Dutch]
• Zapaticos Del Señor [Spanish]

Distribution: 

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
• Asia, Western: Cyprus, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey
• Europe, Central: Switzerland
• Europe, Southern: Albania, Greece (including Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (including Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (including Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)
• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Scottland, Wales

Physical Description
This is a plant with stems that grow up to 1m long with an occasional climbing habit. Its stems flower with up to 20 purple-tipped white-to-cream flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Pollinated flowers turn pink.

Unlike other Fumaria species, which are agricultural weeds, this is an environmental weed that becomes naturalized in its environment and smothers low-growing plants.

Compiler Notes

• Retained for names and distribution.

Image Refs

[Img 05 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fumaria_April_2010-1.jpg ]

* * * * * * *

See Also:

• Plants
• Flowers
• Trees
• Ferns
• Moss and Lichen [Pending]
• Fungi [Pending]
• Cladistic Index
• Herbal Medicine [Pending]
• Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]

• Lardizabalaceae
• Chocolate Vine
• Dead Man's Fingers
• Papaveraceae
• Bleeding Heart
• Celandine
• Fumitory
• Poppy
• Ranunculaceae
• Adonis/Anemone/Pasque
• Buttercup/Crowfoot
• Clematis
• Columbine
• Coptis
• Hellebore
• Hepatica
• Larkspur
• Love in a Mist
• Monkshood/Wolfsbane

* * * * * * *

-Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. George Routleage and Sons. 

( https://www.secretflowerlanguage.com/ )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumaria )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumaria_bastardii )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumaria_capreolata )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumaria_muralis )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumaria_officinalis )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumaria_parviflora )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumaria_purpurea )

Name assistance provided by Claude 3.5 Sonnet.

Prestigious Plants - Papaveraceae 01 - Celandine

Plant Indices

• Alphabetical Index (Genera)
• Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
• Cladistic Index

CELANDINE (Chelidonium)
Family: Papaveraceae
Species: Chelidonium majus

Greater Celandine, Oct. 2008.
Own work--Alvegaspar.

Names: 

• Celandine
• Aallinkukka [Finnish]
• Aaronisappe [Norwegian]
• Aizagi [Basque]
• Apynys [Lithuanian]
• Aranyhaj [Hungarian]
• Areakibei [Basque]
• Asklönn [Swedish]
• Bermeja [Spanish]
• Berrugate [Spanish]
• Bläddra [Swedish]
• Blodsprängd [Swedish]
• Böldört Fecskefű [Hungarian]
• Celandina [Italian/Portuguese]
• Celedonia [Spanish]
• Celidonia [Catalan/Galician/Italian/Portuguese/Spanish]
• Celidonia Mayor [Spanish]
• Cenidonia [Romanian]
• Chabada [Breton]
• Chélidoine [French]
• Chöli-Chrut [Swiss German]
• Ciridueña [Asturian]
• Common Celandine
• Cua De Guilla [Catalan]
• Čuvarkuća [Croatian]
• Dikaruoho [Finnish]
• Dikaya Ryzhukha [Russian]
• Djavelbit [Norwegian]
• Djävulsöga [Swedish]
• Engelevyrt [Norwegian]
• Erva-Andorinha [Portuguese]
• Fecskefű [Hungarian]
• Fecsketárnics [Hungarian]
• Geldkraut [German]
• Glaucio [Italian]
• Glistnik [Polish]
• Goldwurz [German]
• Gölovrot [Russian]
• Gonda [Hungarian]
• Goutte D'or [French]
• Grande Chélidoine [French]
• Grande Eclaire [French]
• Greater Celandine
• Grintwurz [German]
• Großes Schöllkraut [German]
• Gryziel [Polish]
• Guovzza-Rasse [Northern Sami]
• Herba Da Anduriña [Galician]
• Herba De Berrugues [Catalan]
• Herbe À L'hirondelle [French]
• Hierba De Las Golondrinas [Spanish]
• Hierba Verruguera [Spanish]
• Jaskółcze Ziele [Polish]
• Keltajuuri [Finnish]
• Keltamo [Finnish]
• Keltasavikka [Finnish]
• Keltavaleunikko [Finnish]
• Kırlangiçotu [Turkish]
• Kirmizija [Albanian]
• Kregdurt [Frisian]
• Kruenta [Latvian]
• Kruidje-roer-me-niet [Dutch]
• Kruzhevnitsa [Russian]
• Krvavnik [Slovenian]
• Lastovicnik [Czech]
• Lastovičník [Slovak]
• Lastovičník Väčší [Slovak]
• Leddri [Norwegian]
• Lleterola [Catalan]
• Madarakbere [Hungarian]
• Meconopsis [French]
• Medya [Turkish]
• Mežsaratene [Latvian]
• Molke [Norwegian]
• Nagelkruid [Dutch]
• Nattergift [Norwegian]
• Odenurt [Danish]
• Öfverfallsrot [Swedish]
• Pääskysen Yrtti [Finnish]
• Papavero Cornuto [Italian]
• Petite Eclaire [French]
• Pióropusznik [Polish]
• Pipirig [Catalan]
• Plevulja [Serbian]
• Ragnös [Swedish]
• Réformfű [Hungarian]
• Rostopasca [Romanian]
• Rostopaşte [Romanian]
• Ryngel [Norwegian]
• Schellkraut [German]
• Schöllkraut [German]
• Scukuriz [Lingua Ignota]
• Selidonio [Esperanto]
• Signesa [Galician]
• Skjørbuksurt [Norwegian]
• Skælrod [Danish]
• Skelört [Danish/Swedish]
• Skelurt [Norwegian]
• Skjørbuksurt [Norwegian]
• Skvalerhavre [Norwegian]
• Stinking Root
• Stinkende Gouwe [Dutch]
• Storkenebburt [Norwegian]
• Svaleurt [Danish/Norwegian]
• Svalört [Swedish]
• Svölufræði [Icelandic]
• Swallow Wort
• Tetterwort
• Throatwort
• Ugraslilje [Norwegian]
• Ugrasløvetann [Norwegian]
• Ukrudt-Valmue [Danish]
• Valkopähkämö [Finnish]
• Valnjaća [Serbian]
• Verrucaria [Italian]
• Vrtna Rosopas [Slovenian]
• Vrtni Mleček [Slovenian]
• Vlaštovičník [Czech]
• Vlaštovičník Větší [Czech]
• Waldschellkraut [German]
• Wartwort
• Warzownik [Polish]
• Yellow Spit
• Zwaluwenkruid [Dutch]

Distribution: 

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco
• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tibet
• Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China, Southeast China, Manchuria, Qinghai), Korea
• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Primorye, South European Russia, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)
• Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey
• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine (including Krym)
• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden
• Europe, Southern: Albania, Greece, Italy (including Sardinia), North Macedonia, Portugal (including Azores, Madeira), Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (including Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)
• Europe, Western: Belgium, France (including Corsica), Netherlands

Physical Description
A flowering perennial herb from the poppy family known for their yellow flowers. They are erect in habit and grow from 30-120cm (12-47in) in height. The plant exudes an orange or yellow latex when injured.

The flowers are bright yellow and consist of four petals, which occur in umbels of typically four flowers. The flowers are about 2xm across and occasionally occur in doubles. They flower from late spring into summer, May to September. The seeds are dispersed by ants.

Symbolism

Victorian Flower Language
Per Greenaway, under the name "swallow wort," the celandine means "cure for a heartache." Under "throatwort" it references "beauty neglected." These are the same plant, though a distinction may have been obvious in its time based on color or some quirk of cultivation. 

In any case, these meanings appear to be different sides of the same sentiment, as in, "Your beauty (physical or character) is neglected, so I hope you take this recognition as a balm for your broken heart."

Medical
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

The plant has a long history as a medicinal, with the plant above-ground harvested when flowering and dried, and the root harvested in autumn between August and October and used fresh or dried. Hot and bitter to taste, this medicinal is prepared by alcoholic extract or in tea.

Despite this tradition of use, the clinical trials produce results with a high degree of heterogeneity.

Anti-Inflammatory
Traditionally regarded as an anti-inflammatory, especially for inflammatory skin issues.

Detox
Both Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides convey that by the 1st century AD that celandine had long been used as a detoxifying herb. It is still used by modern herbalists in this capacity.

Hepatic
Used to treat liver issues due to a sympathetic resemblance between the plant’s latex and bile. Its alkaloids would most likely have only exacerbated the problem.

UT Issues
Traditionally used in the treatment of gallstones.

Teeth
The root was chewed to relieve toothache.

Eyesight
John Gerard said in his 1597 Herball that, "the juice of the herbe is good to sharpen the sight, for it cleanseth and consumeth away slimie things that cleave about the ball of the eye and hinder the sight and especially being boiled with honey in a brasen vessell."

Modern herbalist Juliette de Baïracli Levy continues this tradition by recommending dissolving celandine in milk and using it as an eyewash.

Cancer
Used in the production of a drug called Ukrain, which promoted for use against cancer and viral infections (presumably cancer-causing viruses like HPV), though there is little evidence of its effectiveness.

GI Issues
Traditional treatment for GI distress. Still used in German and Switzerland in the gastric remedy “Iberogast.” (This drug is highly controversial.)

Skin Conditions
The orange/yellow latex is a traditional French and English folk remedy for warts and inflammatory skin conditions. The wart treatment is still recommended today by Juliette de Baïracli Levy.

Foot Health
Traditional Gypsy/Romani foot refresher.

Poison
The whole plant is toxic, containing a number of isoquinoline alkaloids; even if one believes the claims of its effectiveness as an herbal medicine, dosage is still key. Can cause serious liver issues.

Known to be explicitly poisonous to chickens.

Chelidonium majus, photographer unclear.
From atlas.roslin.pl.

Compiler Notes

• Connect to the lesser celandine (Genus [Ficaria])
• The use of the latex against warts might make it effective against hags.
• Alternately, the latex may be used to mask the true nature of the hag.
• Do something with this being used as a hepatic while also being the cause?
• The plant's supposed ability to clear issues of the eye makes it an effective reagent against blinding curses. This could be limited to literal blindness but might be extended to various malefic charms. This could include magically induced face-blindness or enchantments that manipulate the target's attention from things going on around them.
• There may be a relationship between its use as an eye treatment and the treatment of gallstones. Perhaps this could be escalated to clearing away earth that hides a doorway or cave?
• In the malefic, it can be used to kill chickens. Given that the chicken is of both domestic and solar significance (per hen and cockerel, respectively), the heights of this plant's insidiousness can be escalated easily.

Image Refs

[Img 01 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flower_October_2008-1.jpg ]

[Img 02 - https://atlas.roslin.pl/plant/8333 ]

* * * * * * *

See Also:

• Plants
• Flowers
• Trees
• Ferns
• Moss and Lichen [Pending]
• Fungi [Pending]
• Cladistic Index
• Herbal Medicine [Pending]
• Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]

• Lardizabalaceae
• Chocolate Vine
• Dead Man's Fingers
• Papaveraceae
• Bleeding Heart
• Celandine
• Fumitory
• Poppy
• Ranunculaceae
• Adonis/Anemone/Pasque
• Buttercup/Crowfoot
• Clematis
• Columbine
• Coptis
• Hellebore
• Hepatica
• Larkspur
• Love in a Mist
• Monkshood/Wolfsbane

* * * * * * *

-Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. George Routleage and Sons. 

-Higley, Sarah L. (2007). Hildegard of Bingen’s Unknown Language: An Edition, Translation, and Discussion. Palgrave Macmillan. 

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelidonium )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelidonium_majus )

Name assistance provided by Claude 3.5 Sonnet.

Presitigious Plants - Chocolate Vine and Dead Men's Fingers

Plant Indices

• Alphabetical Index (Genera)
• Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
• Cladistic Index

Family: Lardizabalaceae

Lardizabalaceae is a family of woody plants, mostly lianas (woody vines) native to Asia. It consists of seven genera, only two of which concern our research: Akebia (Chocolate Vine) and Decaisnea (Dead Man's Fingers).

* * * * * * *

Family: Lardizabalaceae

Akebia quinata, Jardin botanique de Lyon, April 2005.
Photo by Jeffdelonge.

Names: 

• Akebia
• Akebi [Japanese]
• Chocolate Vine
• Fiveleaf

Distribution: Asia

Physical Description
Akebia is a genus of woody vines that produce large fruit pods similar to the cacao plant. It is tolerant of both shade and full sunlight, and it can adapt to nearly any environmental conditions. It is a resilient, if minor, invasive plant outside its native range.

Akebia cannot self-pollinate, meaning it will not fruit unless it is pollinated by another akebia.

Symbolism

Pastoralism
In Japanese art and literature, the Akebia is evocative of pastoral settings. Even today older Japanese may reminisce about foraging for this fruit in their youth.

Culture

Weaving
Akebia’s vine material is employed in crafts such as basket weaving.

Food 
The fruit of this plant is edible, treated as a novelty outside of its more pastoral native habitat. The white flesh of the fruit is sweet, its flavor varying greatly nut just between but within species. The flavor profile can range from a mixture of banana, passionfruit, and lychee, to mild or even “flavorless” (having the flavor intensity of dragonfruit).

While once minor forage, the fruit is now considered a specialty seasonal crop.

The purple, slightly bitter rind has been used as a culinary vegetable in Yamagata prefecture and in nearby northern areas. The favored use of this rind in these regions is to stuff them with minced chicken or pork that has been flavored with miso.

Akebia leaves may also be infused into tea.

Ripe Akebia quinata from Washington State, Jan 3rd, 2023.
Own work--JohnJGasper2.

Compiler Notes

• Retained primarily for name and distribution.
• Variability in the flavor profile could be influenced by soil, which would make the plant sensitive to various influences. For fantasy storytelling, these flavor profiles could be indicative of a number of nefarious things, such as a sweetness derived from drowned children, or the fruit turning bitter from a hostile family situation on the property. Perhaps a vine produces particularly delicious fruit because it grows from the grave of a woman who was not appreciated by her family. 
• The use of the rind to house meat dishes is reminiscent of a womb. From the above magical considerations regarding influence, this transforms the fruit into a sort of womb or egg, facilitating a rebirth. This could be a vehicle for the transition of a human to a plant-themed yokai, or to grant a distinct corporeality t  a diffuse spirit of the soil.

Image Refs

[Img 01 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akebia_quinata02.jpg ]

[Img 02 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aquinataflesh.jpg ]

Akebia quinata one female flower and five male flowers.
Mount Ibuki, 21st of May, 2011.
Own work, Alpsdrake.

Names:

• Five-Leaf Akebia
• Akebi [Japanese]
• Akébie [French]
• Aksebidrue [Norwegian]
• Chocolate Vine
• Chocolate-Scented Akebia
• Chōsen-Gomishi [Japanese]
• Cincofolhas [Portuguese]
• Fingerblättrige Akebie [German]
• Fiveleaf Akebia
• Five-Leaf Chocolate Vine
• Five-Leafed Akebia
• Fingerblättrige Akebie [German]
• Klematis-Akebia [Danish]
• Klettergurke [German]
• Liane Chocolat [French]
• Mu Tong [Chinese]
• Peonía Japonesa [Spanish]
• Pięciolistkowa Akebia [Polish]
• Raisin De Chocolat [French]
• Schijnaugurk [Dutch]
• Sjokoladevine [Norwegian]
• Tōtsuru [Japanese]
• Vijfbladige Akebia [Dutch]
• Vjfdolistnaya Akebiya [Russian]
• Wu Mu Tong [Chinese]
• Ya Mu Tong [Chinese]

Distribution: 

• Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China, Southeast China), Japan, Korea

Biome: Hills, hedges, on trees, along forest edges and streams, and on mountain slopes.

Physical Description
Fiveleaf akebia is an evergreen shrub or woody vine that grows up to 10m (30ft) tall, with palmately compound leaves with five elliptic/obovate leaflets that notch at the tip. 

Its flowers grow in racemes, with each flower has three or four sepals. These flowers are noted for their distinctly chocolatey aroma (though this has sometimes been described as more like vanilla or nutmeg). It blooms from April-May.

Akebia prefers sandy soils with good drainage and regular watering, though it is drought resistant. It is hardy down -15 or even -20 °C.

Culture

Landscaping
This akebia is grown as an ornamental, but also as ground cover to prevent the erosion of hills.

Medical
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

Akebia has a history of medicinal use, especially in traditional Chinese medicine. It was attributed with treating:

• UTIs
• Weak lactation
• Rheumatoid arthritis

The diuretic action is credited to the plant’s relatively high concentration of potassium salts. More recent testing has suggested that it:

• Regulates kidney, liver, and cardiovascular activity
• Reduces fat accumulation
• Lowers blood cholesterol levels

The latter two are based on rodent reactions, and we do not have accessto information from human testing.

Food 
Eaten as other akebia. Preferable if eaten fresh, after the fruit has naturally opened on the vine. The bitter seeds can cause throat irritation if chewed. It is recommended that these seeds be spit out or swallowed hole.

This fruit is processed into jams, jellies, smoothies, and even ice-cream.

Akebia quinata fruit.
Own work--JohnJGasper2.

Compiler Notes

• Retained for name, distribution, and medicinal properties.

Image Refs

[Img 03 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Akebia_quinata_in_Mount_Ibuki_2011-05-21.JPG ]

[Img 04 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Akebia_Quinata_pink_husk.jpg ]

Akebia longeracemosa, May 11th, 2014.
By peganum on Flickr.

Names:

• Long-Clustered Akebia
• Chang Chui Ba Yue Cha [Chinese]
• Chocolate Vine
• Long-Racemed Akebia
• Longyuen Akebia [Chinese]
• Nagabana Akebi [Japanese]

Distribution: 

• Asia, East: China (Southeast China), Taiwan

Physical Description
Akebia longeracemosa is a semi-evergreen liana that grows up to 8m (26ft) tall. Its leaves are bright green, taking the orm of five oblong leaflets that occasionally tinge purple in winter.

It has fragrant, cup-shaped, purple-red flowers that hang from racemes 15cm (6in) long. It blooms in spring. (If cross-pollinated between species, the flowers give way to purplish, sausage-shaped fruit pods.)

Food 
Akebia longeracemosa is eaten as a fruit, but our sources provide no particular information on its flavor profile.

Akebia longeracemosa from Small Dole, England, May 20th, 2015.
By peganum on Flickr.

Compiler Notes

• Retained for name and distribution.

Image Refs

[Img 05 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/peganum/14168601575/ ]

[Img 06 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/peganum/17289423664/ ]

Akebia trifoliata, 8th of January, 2023.
Own work--JohnJGasper2.

Names:

• Three-Leaf Akebia
• Akebia De Tres Hojas [Spanish]
• Akebia Trifoliée [French]
• Chocolate Vine
• Dreiblättrige Akebia [German]
• Dreigliedrige Akebie [German]
• Kongfomao [Chinese]
• Mitsuba Akebi [Japanese]
• Mu Tong [Chinese]
• San Ye Ba Yue Zha [Chinese]
• San Ye Mu Tong [Chinese]
• White-flowered Akebia
• Ya Mu Tong [Chinese]

Distribution: 

• Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China, Southeast China), Japan, Taiwan

Physical Description
Threeleaf akebia is aan evergreen liana that grows up to 9.1m (30ft) long. Its leaves possess three ovate, slightly lobed leaflets, which tend to be bronze-tinted when young. While it loses these leaves in the cold, apparently its twining branches are considered attractive even when bare.

Its flowers grow on short racemes. The flowers themselves are deep purple and produce light purple fruits.

It is hardy from −1.1 °C (30 °F) to −28.9 °C(−20 °F)

Medical
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

This plant has a history in traditional Chinese medicine, said to help with UTI’s and improve blood flow.

It is identified as an:

• Analgesic
• Antibacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Diuretic
• Fat-reducer
• Hepato-regenerative
• Neuroprotective

The plant waste generated by the commercial growing of this plant has been used to create an “antibacterial pectin.”

Food 
This akebia has been credited with a flavor reminiscent of coconut or tapioca, or a mild melon flavor when eaten ripe.

Compiler Notes

• Retained for name, distribution, and medicinal properties.

Image Refs

[Img 07 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akebia_Foliage1.jpg ]

* * * * * * *

Family: Lardizabalaceae
Species: Decaisnea fargesii

Decaisnea fargesii with mature fruit.
Howick Gardens, Northumberland, UK. 23rd of Oct, 2009.
Own work--MPF.

Names: 

• Dead Man's Fingers
• Blue Bean Plant
• Blue Bean Shrub
• Blue Finger Plant
• Blue Sausage Fruit
• Blue Sausage Shrub
• Bluebean Vine
• Dead Man's Toes
• Dekenea [Polish]
• Delavay [French]
• Farge's Decaisnea
• Farge's Dead Man's Fingers
• Fémur Du Mort [French]
• Fingerfrucht [German]
• Gousse De Java [French]
• Himalayan Blue Bean
• Liane Aux Saucisses [French]
• Mao Er Shi Shu [Chinese]
• Mao Er Tao [Chinese]
• Mao Gua [Chinese]
• Ming Jiao [Chinese]
• Mu Zei Guo [Chinese]
• Sausage Tree
• Shi Gua [Chinese]
• Shi Hu [Chinese]
• Xiang Jiao Guo [Chinese]
• Xue Feng [Chinese]
• Xue Tong [Chinese]
• Zhi Zhu Xue Tong [Chinese]

Distribution: 

• Asia, Central: Tibet
• Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China, Southeast China)
• Asia, South: Nepal

Physical Description
Decaisnea, or “dead man’s fingers,” is a genus of deciduous shrub or small tree with one or two species, distinguished primarily by the color of their fruit, D. Fargesii having blue fruit and D. Insignis having yellow-green. Here we recognize only D. fargesii for our own convenience.

Decaisnea grows from 4-8m (13-26ft) tall and 4m (13ft) broad, with a trunk up to 20cm (8in) in diameter. It has pinnate leaves 60-90cm (24-35in) long with up to 25 leaflets, each up to 15cm (6in) long and 10cm (4in) broad.

The flowers appear in drooping panicles 15-50cm (6-20in) long. Each flower is 3-6cm (1-2.5in) wide, having no petals but green-yellow sepals.

It produces soft green-yellow to blue-black/blue-grey fruit pods up to 10cm (4in) long and 3cm (1in) in diameter. The fruit resembles the fingers or toes of dead men, hence the many related names. It fruits in autumn.

These plants are hardy to −20 °C (−4 °F) or even lower, thriving in sheltered positions, favoring fertile, well-drained soil.

Devaisnea fargesii fruit, 3rd of Nov, 2011.
Own work--Malte.

Culture

Gardening
This plant’s gorgeous leaves and unusual fruit pods make it a popular ornamental, with many cultivated garden strains selected for bright blue fruit.

Food 
The pulp of both the green-yellow fruit and the blue fruit are edible. The large, flat seeds produced by either strain are not.

There is a marked difference in flavor between the green-yellow and blue strains, with the transparent, glutinous, jelly-like pulp being described as sweet and similar to watermelon in the blue fruits, while the green-yellow are said to be bland.

This fruit is valued by the Lepha people of Sikkim as a food source.

Decaisnea fargesii fuit and seeds, 22nd of March, 2010.
Own work--VoDeTan2.

Compiler Notes

• The real meat of this plant is the name “dead man’s fingers,” especially the blue ones, which suggest the cessation of circulation. The cause of death of this “dead man” can be presumed to be asphyxiation, either through formal hanging for a crime, or by less-than-legal means.
• Laundering the identity of the hypothetical dead man to which these “fingers” belong allows them to operate with the facilities of such a person. For example, if such a man is interpreted as being a thief or a fraud, one could employ necromancy-by-fruit to use the deceased to forge signatures. Similarly, such a plant grown over a family plot on a large estate could be employed the magically usurp power of attorney or control of the family trust.
• The "dead man's fingers" could also be used to coerce the spirits of the dead into compliance. By twisting the fruit, the necromancer sympathetically twists the fingers of the dead.

Image Refs

[Img 08 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Decaisnea_fargesii_fruit2.jpg ]

[Img 09 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:5210-Decaisnea_fargesii-20111103-hamburg.jpg ]

[Img 10 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Decaisnea_fargesii_Samen.jpg ]

* * * * * * *

See Also:

• Plants
• Flowers
• Trees
• Ferns
• Moss and Lichen [Pending]
• Fungi [Pending]
• Cladistic Index
• Herbal Medicine [Pending]
• Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]

• Lardizabalaceae
• Chocolate Vine
• Dead Man's Fingers
• Papaveraceae
• Bleeding Heart
• Celandine
• Fumitory
• Poppy
• Ranunculaceae
• Adonis/Anemone/Pasque
• Buttercup/Crowfoot
• Clematis
• Columbine
• Coptis
• Hellebore
• Hepatica
• Larkspur
• Love in a Mist
• Monkshood/Wolfsbane

* * * * * * *

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akebia )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akebia_longeracemosa )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akebia_quinata )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akebia_trifoliata )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaisnea )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaisnea_fargesii )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lardizabalaceae )

Name assistance provided by Claude 3.5 Sonnet.