WEEK 1
Since you've signed up for the class I'm sure most of you have an idea of what you're in for this year. For those who have little knowledge of the subject, Herbology is, quite simply, the study of plants, both magical and non-magical. While here you will not only learn how to take care of plants, but also how those plants can be used in potions or as medicine, as well as any interesting properties they have.
Your first year will cover some basic - but no less fascinating - plants. Should you choose to progress to higher years of study you'll find the plants get much more... unpredictable in nature. You'll get a taste of what I mean when we near the end of the year.
HOMEWORK
As this is your first time studying Herbology I would like you to write 3-5 sentences telling me why you decided to sign up for this class, what you hope to gain from it, and what plants (if any) you hope to learn about at some point during your student years.
WEEK 2
Before we get into learning about specific plants I first want to touch on some basic plant care. Plants, whether magical or non-magical, require three things in order to grow: sunlight, water and food. It's important to know, however, that not all plants require the same amount of each and that too much or too little can be detrimental to the health of the plant.
Sunlight
Some plants flourish in very little sunlight while others require several hours of direct sunlight a day. Dry, faded flowers and burnt leaves are common signs that a plant is receiving too much sunlight and should be moved to a more shaded area, while a plant that has tall stems and is leaning toward the light source is a sure sign it's receiving too little. If you are unsure what kind of sunlight your plant needs you'll have to do a bit of trial and error to figure it out.
Water
An underwatered or overwatered plant will look very much the same in that it will stop producing flowers and/or fruit, its leaves will shrivel and the stems will flop. Checking the soil is the only way to know which is the problem: if your plant is underwatered the soil will be very dry and if it's overwatered it will be very wet. A good way to test to see if your plant needs watering is to dig about an inch into the soil. If it's dry it most likely needs water. Also important is the fact that not all plants need the same amount of water. Succulents, such as cacti, need much less water than other kinds of plants.
Food
Using a good fertilizer, such as dragon dung, will give plants an excellent source of food and a definite boost in growth. It isn't always necessary, however, for plants already growing in good, healthy soil to be given fertilizer. Generally speaking, the darker the soil the healthier it is. Adding fertilizer to your soil can significantly improve its quality, though it should be done no more than once per week, if that. Here in the greenhouses we prefer (you guessed it) dragon dung, but for some of the more delicate plants mooncalf dung is used. In case you've been wondering what that pungent odor is, it's the dragon dung.
Pests
The most common pest you'll likely encounter here are slugs. Regular slugs can be taken care of with a well aimed Fire-Making Spell (using the Incendio Duo incantation) and the flesh-eating variety can be dealt with using the aptly named Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent. If weeds are a problem you can use Herbicide Potion, which you'll likely learn about if you study Potions.
I know that's a lot to take in for first years, but rest assured that you won't be required to memorize much of it. In fact, I'd much rather you use this information as a guide whenever I entrust any plants into your care.
HOMEWORK
1. How can you tell if a plant is receiving too much sunlight?
2. How will a plant look if it has been given either too much or too little water?
3. What can be added to soil to help feed a plant?
4. Research time! Where can you buy Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent?
WEEK 3
We're starting off our study of plants by looking at the nettle. While it may not seem like it, this widespread plant is quite useful, having been used for many years as a source of medicine and food.
Reaching heights of 3-7 feet, nettles have green leaves and stems that can either be covered with stinging or non-stinging hairs (for which they've earned the name ''stinging nettles'' whether they actually sting or not). When touched, the stinging hairs will pierce the skin and deliver a liquid that causes a stinging sensation, oftentimes leaving a rash. Nettles also produce numerous small flowers that can be greenish or brownish in color.
In potion making, dried nettles are used to make both the Boil Cure Potion and the Swelling Solution. Nettles are also made into beverages such as nettle wine and nettle tea, but they can also be used to make nettle soup that is enjoyed by both magical and non-magical folk alike. With a taste similar to a blend of spinach and cucumber, nettles are a rich source of iron, potassium, manganese, calcium and the vitamins A and C.
HOMEWORK
1. What potions are made using nettles?
2. What non-magical beverages are made with nettles?
3. What color flowers do nettles produce?
4. Do you think it's safe to eat nettles raw? Why or why not?
Bonus: Research time! Which expert potioneer was particularly fond of nettle soup?
WEEK 4
I've prepared a relatively easy lesson this week as I know you're all longing for Interim to begin. We're studying moly, a plant that has a number of powerful properties.
Easily recognized by its black stem and milk white flowers, moly is particularly adept at protecting against dark enchantments and, when eaten, will counteract them completely. Muggles – bless them! - are unaware of the existence of moly as it only appears in a very small number of their stories. Most famous of these is a Greek poem called The Odyssey, in which the hero Odysseus uses moly to protect himself against the dark magic of Circe. Circe, as some of you may be interested to know, is featured on a Chocolate Frog Card.
Moly is also used as a potion ingredient, most notably in the Wiggenweld Potion.
HOMEWORK
1. Describe the physical appearance of moly.
2. How must you use moly in order to completely counteract dark enchantments?
3. What potion is moly used in?
4. Research time! Had Odysseus not used moly to protect himself, what would Circe have transfigured him into?
WEEK 5
We'll be studying a pair of plants this week: asphodel and wormwood. Both of these plants are used to brew the Draught of Living Death.
Asphodel
A popular garden plant, asphodels grow to heights of 1.5-2 ft. though asphodel ramosus grow much larger than any other variety. A hardy plant, asphodel grows best in areas of well-drained soil that receive plenty of sunlight. It has long, slender leaves and an elongated stem topped with a spike of flowers. These flowers can be white or yellow, though those of asphodelus ramosus in particular are large and white with a reddish-brown line down the middle of each tepal, of which there are six per flower.
Asphodels are native to Europe but have spread all over the world.
Wormwood
There are many different types of wormwood, such as common wormwood, Roman wormwood, sweet wormwood, absinthe wormwood and white wormwood, each of which are native to a different region. Since there are so many it would be impossible to discuss them all in a single lesson – this is where your homework is going to help.
In addition to being used in the Draught of Living Death, wormwood is also used in the Shrinking Solution and the Elixir to Induce Euphoria.
Both asphodel and wormwood have ties to ancient Greek culture. Asphodel was associated with the Greek afterlife and was commonly planted near graves, while wormwood has been given the scientific name Artemisia (after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wilderness, among other things) by Muggles.
Fair warning: this week both your questions are research-based.
HOMEWORK
1. Contrary to what some of you might think, I didn't make a mistake when writing the word ''tepal''. Do a bit of research and tell me, in your own words, what the difference between the following parts of a flower are: petal, sepal, tepal.
2. Choose one type of wormwood to gather information on, then fill out and submit the following form:
Scientific Name:
Common Name(s):
Native Range:
Appearance: (please include things such as height and color, leaf shape and size, flower shape , size and color, etc...)
Medicinal Uses (if any):
Other Uses (if any):
An Interesting Fact:
WEEK 6
I've a rather fun plant to teach you all this week and it's one that'll require the use of a wand to deal with. They're called bouncing bulbs and, as their name suggests, they have the ability to bounce when not restrained. These bulbs are very easily recognized as they're very large, very purple and have a tuft of long, green leaves growing out their tops.
For the most part, bouncing bulbs are perfectly safe. However, should they feel threatened in any way they will become aggressive. Young bulbs are the easiest to handle with the help of a simple, well-aimed Knockback Jinx while fully grown bulbs, which can grow to the size of doorways, must be handled with the Fire-Making Spell, which causes them to wither.
In potions, bouncing bulbs are used in the Pompion Potion.
HOMEWORK
I've got some fairly aggressive young bulbs here that need restraining. Before you start you'll need to research the Knockback Jinx in order to learn its proper incantation and wand movement. I then want you to help me gather them up into a sack. Write about your experience in a paragraph or two.
Interactive Practical
Students electing to do the interactive practical instead of the above homework should check in at the Lakeside Lawn using the appropriate password.
WEEK 7
In contrast to last week's lesson, this week I'll simply be telling you about a very dangerous and deadly magical plant called Devil's Snare. This plant grows in dark, damp environments and is only found in Scotland. Makes you question Hogwarts founders' choice to build a school here, eh? It's also why I've decided to teach you about it in your first year – better safe than sorry!
Devil's Snare can be recognized by its soft, springy vines and tendrils that react whenever anyone touches it. The more a person struggles the more the vines and tendrils will wrap around them and constrict. By relaxing and staying as still as possible you can trick the plant into thinking it has killed you. Another course of action you can take is to create heat and light, two things Devil's Snare hate most of all. Conjuring a fire, for example, will cause the plant to immediately release you so it can get as far away as possible from the heat and light.
Devil's Snare was famously used in the 1991-1992 school year to guard the Philosopher's Stone, and again in May of 1998 during the Battle of Hogwarts.
HOMEWORK
1. Where are you most likely to stumble upon a patch of Devil's Snare?
2. What must you do if you ever find yourself entangled in Devil's Snare?
Research Questions:
3. What plant bears a superficial resemblance to Devil's Snare but is much, much less harmful?
4. What former Ministry of Magic employee was strangled by a potted cutting of Devil's Snare? How and where did this occur?
WEEK 8
As with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Years, I'm giving you a break from the usual lesson this week. I hope you've all enjoyed learning about the plants we covered. I know I certainly had fun teaching you!
If you're missing any homework now is the time to get caught up.
HOMEWORK
No homework, just post in the Owlery that you've read the lesson and are studying for next week's exam.