Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants

Discover the folklore and history of our most toxic plants through this beautifully produced, gorgeously illustrated compendium—a captivating coffee table book for enthusiasts of witchcraft books and botanical knowledge alike.

"If you drink much from a bottle marked ‘poison,’ it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later." – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

In both history and fiction, some of the most dramatic, notorious deaths have been through poisonings. Concealed and deliberate, it’s a crime that requires advance planning and that for many centuries could go virtually undetected. And yet there is a fine line between healing and killing: the difference lies only in the dosage! In Botanical Curses and Poisons, Fez Inkwright, a knowledgeable kitchen witch, returns to folkloric and historical archives to reveal the fascinating, untold stories behind a variety of lethal plants, witching herbs, and fungi.

Going from A to Z, she covers everything from apple (think of the poisoned fruit in “Snow White”) and the hallucinogenic angel’s trumpet to laurel, which emits toxic fumes, to oleander (a deadly ornamental shrub), with each plant beautifully illustrated by the author herself, making it a spellbinding spell book and a feast for the eyes.

This enthralling treasury is packed with insight, lore, and the revealed mysteries of everyday flora—including the prevalence of poisoning in ancient Rome, its use in religion and magic, and common antidotes—making this the perfect addition to the library of gardeners, writers, folklorists, witches, and scientists alike. Whether you seek knowledge of plant books or a comprehensive plant encyclopedia, this poisonous plants book is a must-have addition to your collection, delving into curses, chemistry, and the captivating world of botanical witchcraft books.

Fez Inkwrightis an illustrator and author with a passion and knowledge of botany, nature, primitive religions, and folklore. She has produced work for children’s books, created hand-drawn maps, and designed tattoos. She lives in Bristol, England.