Medicinal
Species traditionally employed in herbalism or modern pharmacology for therapeutic compounds—ranging from anti-inflammatories to cardiac glycosides. Tag a plant “medicinal” when its documented or ongoing use centers on treating or preventing ailments.
Ayahuasca: Amazonian Plant Lessons
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian psychoactive brew, has spread globally since the late 1990s, especially through New Age practices and ecotourism. Its deep Indigenous roots and evolving meanings highlight the complex human-plant relationships that have been reshaped in the global marketplace.
vine, psychoactive, medicinal, tropicalCinnamomum verum: Discovering "True" Cinnamon
Once just a kitchen spice—and briefly an internet stunt—cinnamon has a much deeper story rooted in centuries of global trade and discovery. This narrative traces the quest to identify and control “true” cinnamon, revealing its lasting impact on medicine, commerce, and history.
spice, medicinal, tropicalContrayerva
Francis Drake’s 16th-century voyage around the globe helped spark a wave of European interest in exotic plants, feeding the rise of botanical science. This story follows how naturalists like Charles Clusius used explorers’ accounts to build networks, botanical gardens, and a new culture of plant collecting in early modern Europe.
herb, medicinal, root, tropicalWild Yam: The Rhizome of the Pill
Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa), once key to the development of the birth control pill, has a complex history shaped by Indigenous knowledge and commercial science. This story revisits how the plant was studied and represented, challenging traditional botanical illustrations to reflect its deeper cultural and medicinal significance.
root, medicinal, vine, temperateDittany: Women’s Herbs and Reproductive Control
Used for over 2,000 years, dittany has been closely tied to women’s health, especially around menstruation and childbirth. This story explores how historical herbals and recipes reflect women’s knowledge and agency in using this medicinal plant across time.
herb, spice, medicinal, temperateMint: The Ubiquity of a Commercial Crop
Mint is a globally widespread plant with thousands of varieties, woven into daily life through food, medicine, and products. This story uncovers mint’s overlooked role in botanical history, from naming challenges to its impact on medicine and global plant exchange.
herb, medicinal, temperateThe Broad-Leaf Paperbark: Friend or Foe?
The paperbark tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) was introduced by colonial powers to reshape landscapes—from Hong Kong’s rocky hillsides to Florida’s swamplands—under the guise of progress and productivity. This story reveals how a once-valued symbol of development became a cautionary tale of ecological disruption and unintended consequences.
tree, medicinal, tropicalOpium Poppy: A Cursed Beauty
The opium poppy has a long, complex history—as a sacred medicinal plant, a source of artistic inspiration, and a driver of addiction and conflict. This story traces its journey from ancient ritual use to modern controversy, revealing shifting perceptions of the poppy as both a symbol of beauty and a global blight.
flower, ornamental, psychoactive, medicinalTurmeric: Herb of the Sun
Turmeric, prized for its vivid yellow-orange rhizome, has long been used as a spice, medicine, and dye across South and Southeast Asia. This story traces how its distinctive color and flavor not only shaped South Asian cuisine but also played a role in British imperial identity and cultural performance.
root, spice, medicinal, tropical
