Wortcunning Glossary - an Old World list of magical plants and their folk names

Plants boasts a multitude of names attributed to them. 

These various names stem from distinct regions, languages, and communities. The origins of these names are varied – some harken back to a herb's traditional medicinal applications, others draw from physical attributes or associated folklore. On occasion, the origins of a name remain enigmatic.

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A

• Aaron's Rod: Goldenrod Solidago spp -or- Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Absinthe: Wormwood Artemisia absinthium

• Adder's Mouth: Dogstooth Violet Erythronium americanum

• Adder's Tongue: Dogstooth Violet Erythronium americanum

• Allison Alyssum Alyssum spp

• American Dittany: Basil Ocimum basilicum

• Angel Food: Angelica Angelica archangelica

• Angel's Trumpet: Datura Datura stramonium

• Apple of Carthage: Pomegranate Punica granatum

• Archangel: Angelica Angelica archangelica

• Artemis Herb: Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

• Ass's Ear: Comfrey Symphytum officinale -or- Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara

• Ass's Foot: Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara

• Asthma Weed: Lobelia Lobelia inflata

B

• Bad Man's Plaything: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Bairnwort: Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum

• Banewort: Belladonna Atropa Belladonna -or- Pansy Viola tricolor

• Bat's Wings: Holly Ilex aquifolium

• Bat's Wool: Moss Bryophyta spp

• Bear's Foot: Lady's Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris

• Bear's Grape: Uva Ursa Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi

• Beaver Poison: Hemlock Conium maculatum

• Beggar's Buttons: Burdock Arctium lappa

• Beggarweed: Dodder Cuscuta europaea

• Bindweed: Morning Glory Ipomoea spp

• Bird's Eye: Pansy Viola tricolor

• Bird's Foot: Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum

• Bird's Nest: Carrot Daucus carota

• Bishopwort: Betony Stachys officinalis

• Bitter Grass: Ague Root Aletris farinosa

• Black Sampson: Echinacea Echinacea angustifolia 

• Blazing Star: Ague Root Aletris farinosa

• Blind Eyes: Poppy Papaver spp

• Blood: Elder sap Sambucus spp (or any tree sap)

• Blood from a Head: Lupine Lupinus spp

• Blood from a Shoulder: Spiny Bear's Breach Acanthus spinosus

• Blood of Ares: Purslane Portulaca oleracea

• Blood of a Goose: Mulberry Tree Sap Morus nigra, Morus rubra

• Blood of a Snake: Hematite mineral form of iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3)

• Blood of an Eye: Tamarisk Gall Tamarix articulata

• Blood of Ares: Purslane Portulaca oleracea.

• Blood of Hestia: Chamomile Anthemis nobilis

• Bloody Fingers: Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

• Boy's Love: Southernwood Artemisia abrotanum

• Bread and Cheese Tree: Hawthorne Crataegus oxyacantha

• Bride of the Meadow: Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria

• Bride of the Sun: Marigold Calendula officinalis

• Bull's Blood: Horehound Marrubium vulgare

• Bull's Foot: Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara

• Bull's Semen: Eggs of the Blister Beetle beetles (Coleoptera) of the family Meloidae

• Burning Bush: Wahoo Euonymus atropurpureus

• Buttons Tansy: Tanacetum vulgare

C

• Calf's Snout: Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus

• Candlewick Plant: Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Capon's Tail: Valerian Valeriana officinalis

• Carpenter's Herb: Bugleweed Ajuga reptans

• Carpenter's Square: Knotted Figwort Scrophularia nodosa

• Carpenter's Weed: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Cat: Catnip Nepeta cataria

• Cat's Foot: Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea

• Chameleon Star: Bromeliad Bromeliaceae spp

• Clot: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Cocklebur: Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria

• Corpse Candles: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Cuddy's Lungs: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Crocodile Dung: Ethiopian Soil

• Crow's Foot: Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum

D

• Daffy Down Dilly Daffodil Narcissus spp

• Daphne: Bay Laurus nobilis

• Dead Man's Bells: Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

• Deadly Nightshade: Belladonna Atropa Belladonna

• Death Angel: Agaric Amanita muscaria

• Death Cap: Agaric Amanita muscaria

• Death Flower: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Death's Herb: Belladonna Atropa belladonna

• Delight of the Eye: Rowan Sorbus aucuparia

• Devil's Beard: Houseleek Sempervivum tectorum

• Devil's Bit; Devil's Bit Succisa pratensis

• Devil's Cherries: Belladonna Atropa belladonna

• Devils Dung: Asafoetida Ferula foetida

• Devil's Ear: Elephant Ear Tree Enterolobium cyclocarpum.

• Devil's Eye: Henbane Hyoscyamus niger -or- Periwinkle Catharantus roseus

• Devil's Flower: Bachelor's Buttons Centaurea cyanus

• Devil's Fuge: Mistletoe Viscum album

• Devil's Guts: Dodder Cuscuta europaea

• Devil's Herb: Belladonna Atropa belladonna

• Devil's Milk: Celandine Chelidonium majus

• Devil's Nettle: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Dew of the Sea: Rosemary Rosemarinus officinalis

• Dog's Tongue: Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale

• Dove's Foot: Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum

• Dragon Wort: Bistort Polygonum bistorta

• Dragon's Blood: Resin of Draco Palm Dracaena spp

• Dragon's Scales: Bistort Leaves Persicaria bistorta

• Drunkard: Marigold Calendula officinalis

• Duck's Foot: Mayapple Podophyllum peltaltum

• Dwaleberry: Belladonna Atropa belladonna

E

• Eagle: Wild Garlic Allium spp

• Earth Smoke: Fumitory Fumaria officinalis

• Earth Star: Bromeliad Bromeliaceae spp

• Eerie: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Egyptian Thorn: Gum Arabic Acacia senegal 

• Egyptian Gum: Gum Arabic Acacia senegal

• Elf Dock: Elecampane Inula helenium

• Elf Leaf: Lavender Lavendula officinale -or- Rosemary Rosemarinus officinalis

• Elven: Common Elm Ulmus campestris

• Elfwort: Elecampane Inula helenium

• Enchanter's Plant: European Vervain Verbena officinalis

• Englishman's Foot: Plantain Plantago major

• Eye of Newt: Mustard Seed Brassicaceae spp

• Eye of the Day: Common Daisy Bellis perennis

• Eye of the Star: Horehound Marrubium vulgare

• Eye Root: Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis

• Eyes: Any "eye" flowers such as daisies, etc.

F

• Fairy Caps: Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

• Fairy Cup: Cowslip Primula veris

• Fairy Thimbles: Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

• Fairy's Glove: Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

• Fat from a Head: Spurge Euphorbia spp

• Felon Herb: Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

• Five Fingers Cinquefoil Potentilla spp

• Flesh and Blood: Tormentil Potentilla erecta

• Flower of Death: Periwinkle Catharantus roseus

• Folk's Glove: Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

• Frau Holle Elder Sambucus spp

• Frog's Foot: Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus spp.

• From the Belly: Earth-Apple / Chamomile

• From the Foot: Houseleek Sempervivum tectorum

• From the Loins: Chamomile 

• Fruit of the Gods: Apple 

• Fruit of the Underworld: Apple 

G

• Gallows: Mandrake Mandragora officinarum

• Ghost Flower: Datura Datura stramonium 

• Goat's Foot: Ash Weed Aegopodium podagraria

• Golden Star or Goldy Star: Avens Geum spp

• Good Luck Plant: Ti Cordyline fruticosa

• Great Ox-eye: Ox-eye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum

• Gravel Root: Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium purpureum

• Graveyard Dust: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Guts: Roots and Stalks of a Plant

• Gypsy Flower: Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale

H

• Hag's Taper: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Hagthorn: Hawthorn Crataegus crusgalli

• Hand of Power Lucky Hand Root Dactylorhiza orchids

• Hare's Beard: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Hellweed: Dodder Cuscuta europaea

• Herb of Angels: Angelica Angelica archangelica

• Herb of Circe: Mandrake Mandragora officinarum

• Herb of Grace: Rue Ruta graveolens

• Herb of Mary: Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis

• Hexenmannchen: Mandrake Mandragora officinarum

• Hind's Tongue: Hart's Tongue Fern Scolopendrium vulgare

I

• Ibis Bone Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica

• Indian God Tree: Banyan Ficus benghalensis

J

• Jacob's Ladder: Lily of the valley Convallaria magalis

• Jacob's Staff: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Joe Pye Weed: Gravel Root Eupatorium purpureum.

• Joy of the Mountain: Marjoram Origanum marjorana

• Joy on the Ground: Periwinkle Catharantus roseus

• Juno's Tears: European Vervain Verbena officinalis

• Jupiter's Bean: Henbane Hyoscyamus niger

• Jupiter's Staff: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

K

• Key of Heaven: Cowslip Primula veris

• King's Crown: Black Haw Vibrunum prunifolium

• Kronos' Blood: Sap of the Cedar Tree Cedrus

L

• Ladder to Heaven: Lily of the valley Convallaria magalis

• Ladies' Meat: Hawthorn Crataegus crusgalli

• Lad's Love: Southernwood Artemisia abrotanum

• Lady of the Meadow: Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria

• Lady of the Woods: Birch Betula lenta

• Lamb's Ears: Betony Stachys officinalis

• Laurier Sauce: Bay Laurus nobilis

• Lion's Foot: Lady's Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris

• Lion's Hair: Leaves of a Turnip's taproot Brassica rapa

• Leopard's Bane: Arnica Amica montana

• Lion's Herb: Columbine Leaves Aquilegia spp

• Lion Semen: Human Semen

• Lion's Tooth: Dandelion Taraxacum officinale

• Little Queen: Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria

• Love Root: Lovage Levisticum officinale

• Lucky Hand Root: Lucky Hand Orchid Dactylorhiza orchids

M

• Mad Root: Briony Bryonia sp

• Madwort: Alyssum Alyssum spp 

• Maiden Hair: True Maidenhair Fern Adiantum capillus-veneris

• Man's Bile: Turnip Sap Brassica rapa

• Master of the Woods: Woodruff Asperula odorata

• Masterwort: Angelica Angelica archangelica

• Monk's Hood: Aconite Aconitum napellus

• Mortification Root: Althea Althaea officinalis

• Mother of the Herbs: Rue Ruta graveolens

• Mother of the Wood: Blackthorn Prunus spinosa

N

• Naughty Man: Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

• Naughty Man's Cherries: Belladonna Atropa belladonna

O

• Old Gal: Elder Bark Sambucus nigra

• Old Lady: Elder Bark Sambucus nigra

• Old Man: Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

• Old Man's Flannel: Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus

• Old Man's Pepper: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Old Uncle Henry: Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

• Old Woman: Wormwood Artemisia absinthium

• Oliver: Olive Olea europaea

• Our Lady's Tears: Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis

P

• Physician's Bone: Sandstone

• Pig's Tail: Leopard's Bane Arnica montana

• Privates: Seed

Q

• Queen Elizabeth Root: Orris Root Iris spp

• Queen of the Meadow: Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria

• Queen of the Night: Vanilla Cactus Cereus grandiflorus

• Queen's Delight: Queensroot Stillingia sylvatica

R

• Racoon Berry: Mayapple Podophyllum peltaltum

• Ram's Head: American Valerian Valeriana officinalis

• Rat: Valerian Valeriana officinalis

• Red Cockscomb: Amaranth Amaranthus hypochondriacus

• Red Robin: Knotgrass Polygonum spp

• Resurrection Plant: Rose of Jericho Selaginella lepidophylla

S

• Seed of Horus: White Horehound Marrubium vulgare

• Semen of Ammon: Houseleek Sempervivum tectorum

• Semen of Ares: Clover Trifolium spp

• Semen of Helios: White Hellebore Veratrum album

• Semen of Hephaistos: Fleabane Erigeron annuus

• Semen of Herakles: Mustard Rocket / Arugula Eruca sativa

• Semen of Hermes: Dill Anethum graveolens

• Seven Year's Love: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Shepherd's Heart: Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastori

• Sleep Wort: Lettuce Lactuca sativa

• Snake Grape: Briony Bryonia dioica

• Snake Head: Leech hirudinea medicinalis

• Sorcerer's Berry: Belladonna Atropa belladonna

• Sorcerer's Herb: Datura Datura stramonium

• Sorcerer's Violet: Periwinkle Catharanthus roseus

• Sparrow's Tongue: Knotweed Polygonum spp

• Star Flower: Borage Borago officinalis

• Star of the Earth: Avens Geum spp

• Starwort: Aster Asteraceae spp

• Swine's Snout: Dandelion leaves Taraxacum officinale

T

• Tail: Stem

• Tears of a Hamadryas Baboon: Dill Juice

• Teeth: Pine Cones

• Thor's Helper: Rowan Sorbus aucuparia

• Thousand Seal: Yarrow Achillea millefolium

• Thunderbesem: Mistletoe Viscum album

• Titan's Blood: Wild Lettuce Lactuca virosa

• Toad: Toadflax Linaria vulgaris

• Toe: Leaf

• Toe of Frog; Buttercup Ranunculus spp

• Tongue: Petal

• Tongue of Dog: Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale

• Tree of Death: Cypress Cupressaceae spp

• Tree of Enchantment: White Willow Salix alba

U

• Unicorn Horn: True Unicorn Root Aletris farinosa -or- False Unicorn Helonias dioica

• Unshoe-the-Horse: Moonwort Botrychium lunaria

• Urine: Dandelion Taraxacum officinale

V

• Van Van: European Vervain Verbana Officinalis

• Voodoo Witch Buff: Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua

W

• War Poison: Yellow Evening Primrose Oenothera flava

• Weasel Snout: Yellow Dead Nettles/Yellow Archangel Lamium gaieobdolon

• White Man's Foot: Common Plantain Plantago major

• White Thorn: Hawthorne Crataegus spp

• Winter Bloom: Witch Hazel Hammamelis virginiana

• Wishing Thorn Blackthorn Sloe Prunus spinosa

• Witch Bane: Rowan Sorbus aucuparia

• Witch Grass: Dog Grass Agropyron repens

• Witch Herb: Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

• Witch Wood: Rowan Sorbus aucuparia

• Wolf Claw: Club Moss Lycopodiopsida spp

• Wolf Foot: Bugleweed Lycopus virginicus

• Wolf's Milk: Euphorbia Euphorbia spp.

• Woodpecker Peony Paeonia spp

• Wool of Bat: Holly leaves Ilex aquifolium

• Worms: Thin Roots