f1v as Cloves

[-JKP-]

I keep seeing this diagram identified as Atropa belladonna. I can't see why, everything about the diagram is a mismatch with this plant. It doesn't have equal leaves, no explanation for the different colours, belladonna's bracts don't hug the berry, and they are pointy. The root is wrong, too, seems more like a tree or shrub root, looks like a calloused foot.

To me the Dana Scott identification of Syzygium aromaticum seems to fit much better than any of the other identifications I've seen reported for this plant (St. John's Wort, black nightshade, etc). The only problem I see is that only the clove top shows and is shown larger than it would be in comparison to the leaves. I think the largeness could be to show what part of the plant is used, where to find it on the plant, and that one is generally enough in terms of usage. The fact that it is not 100% obvious is perhaps an attempt to keep the knowledge semi-hidden from the casual observer.



Is there a better fit for this plant drawing? It's not striking me as familiar other than the clove top, and there is also the 'clavus' connection with the word clove and the calloused foot look of the root. But it's not perfect, so I'm open to a better identification. I find that a lot of plant diagrams strike me as looking like weeds I am familiar with in North America, but they are old world plants originally, but the ID of cloves would not fit that pattern. However cloves have been used for millennia, so I could see it as a known plant, just as we know it today, at least the part that is used.

Linda, St. John's wort as an ID is not a bad idea. Note how smooth and rounded the VMS elliptical leaves are. Many species of St. John's wort have that characteristic and most of them also have the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.. Several species have berries, including the species most often listed as a medicinal plant in old herbals.

Also note the slightly bendy branches on the left and right sides. St. John's wort has that characteristic also. It's a mostly but not completely an upright plant but when the branches get long, they lean a little and there are a couple of species that are somewhat viny and grow almost horizontal. Some of the hypericums have clasping leaves.


In contrast to the VMS image, clove leaves are fairly pointed and the margins often lightly ruffled or irregular. The stems can be reddish but the leaves do not have that red/green that is so characteristic of St. John's wort. Clove is much more treelike and I'm not aware of any clove species with clasping leaves—the leaves are petioled. Also, the clove "fruit" is quite narrow and most herbals draw it that way, whereas the VMS drawing lacks that detail.


I'm not saying plant 1v is St. John's wort, there are a few other possibilities, but I do believe it fits the VMS drawing better than clove.