30-08-2017, 12:19 AM
Veratrum is one of the plants on my list:
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At the time I uploaded this ID (2013 and 2016), I didn't include Dracaena because it's more of a tropical or desert plant and wasn't well-known in the 15th century within Europe or most of north-coastal Africa, and the leaves aren't quite parallel, but given the presence of the "dragon", other researchers have convinced me Dracaena might qualify.
I still think Plantago is the closest visual match to the leaves, but then the dragon would have to be nibbling rather than smelling or sucking, because Plantago has no significant smell and no significant sap. It is edible (and also used medicinally).
Thew fact that Veratrum is toxic doesn't discount it as a possible ID. A very high proportion of medieval medicinal plants were toxic. In fact, you almost get the feeling that they considered toxins as a way to root out body toxins because they used them so widely. This was true even in the 19th and 20th centuries, when mercury, which is highly toxic, was used to treat Syphilis.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
At the time I uploaded this ID (2013 and 2016), I didn't include Dracaena because it's more of a tropical or desert plant and wasn't well-known in the 15th century within Europe or most of north-coastal Africa, and the leaves aren't quite parallel, but given the presence of the "dragon", other researchers have convinced me Dracaena might qualify.
I still think Plantago is the closest visual match to the leaves, but then the dragon would have to be nibbling rather than smelling or sucking, because Plantago has no significant smell and no significant sap. It is edible (and also used medicinally).
Thew fact that Veratrum is toxic doesn't discount it as a possible ID. A very high proportion of medieval medicinal plants were toxic. In fact, you almost get the feeling that they considered toxins as a way to root out body toxins because they used them so widely. This was true even in the 19th and 20th centuries, when mercury, which is highly toxic, was used to treat Syphilis.