Vine
Climbing, twining, or trailing plants that rely on other structures for support. They exploit vertical space, whether for fruit production (grapes) or dramatic foliage (morning glory). “Vine” helps gardeners plan trellises and pergolas.
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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, tropical -
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Passionflower: Christian Curiosity, Exotic Vine, Tropical Fruit
The passionflower (Passiflora), native to the Neotropics, has carried shifting meanings across cultures. Indigenous peoples used it for food and medicine, while Europeans saw symbols of Christ’s Passion in its flowers. By the Victorian era, it was reinterpreted as a sign of exotic beauty and sensuality, spreading into gardens, decorative arts, and poetry. Today, with over 500 species and 400 hybrids, passionflowers are cultivated worldwide for their striking flowers and edible fruits, now celebrated globally as passionfruit.
flower, fruit, medicinal, ornamental, tropical, vine -
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Wild 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, temperate
