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29 results
  • Physalis alkekengi L. Rosaceae Chinese lantern, Winter Cherry, Bladder Cherry Distribution: C & S Europe, W. Asia to Japan Culpeper: In his English Physitian of 1652 writes: Winter Cherry ... are of great use in physic ...’ and recommends them for almost all kidney and urinary problems. In particular he seems to advocate the use of green berries in beer, for preventing kidney stones lodging in the ureters. It is called ‘aikakengi’ in the College’s Pharmacopoeia Londinensis of 1618. Belonging to the family Solanaceae, all its parts are poisonous except the ripe fruit. The green fruit and the rest of the plant contain atropinic compounds and will produce a dry mouth, rapid heart beat, hallucinations, coma and death if enough is taken. As the atropine is only present in the unripe fruit eating one will make the mouth go dry (and it has the most unpleasant taste), but it will also relax the smooth muscle in the wall of the ureter which helps passage of ureteric stones. Culpeper’s observations on its usefulness are supported by more modern observations. When ripe, the orange fruit inside its skeletal outer ‘lantern’ is edible, free of atropine, and delicious. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Physalis alkekengi L. Rosaceae Chinese lantern, Winter Cherry, Bladder Cherry. Distribution: C & S Europe, W. Asia to Japan Culpeper: In his English Physitian of 1652 writes: Winter Cherry ...are of great use in physic ...’ and recommends them for almost all kidney and urinary problems. In particular he seems to advocate the use of green berries in beer, for preventing kidney stones lodging in the ureters. It is called ‘aikakengi’ in the College’s Pharmacopoeia Londinensis of 1618. Belonging to the family Solanaceae, all its parts are poisonous except the ripe fruit. The green fruit and the rest of the plant contain atropinic compounds and will produce a dry mouth, rapid heart beat, hallucinations, coma and death if enough is taken. As the atropine is only present in the unripe fruit eating one will make the mouth go dry (and it has the most unpleasant taste), but it will also relax the smooth muscle in the wall of the ureter which helps passage of ureteric stones. Culpeper’s observations on its usefulness are supported by more modern observations. When ripe, the orange fruit inside its skeletal outer ‘lantern’ is edible, free of atropine, and delicious. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Physalis alkekengi L. Rosaceae Chinese lantern, Winter Cherry, Bladder Cherry. Distribution: C & S Europe, W. Asia to Japan Culpeper: In his English Physitian of 1652 writes: Winter Cherry ...are of great use in physic ...’ and recommends them for almost all kidney and urinary problems. In particular he seems to advocate the use of green berries in beer, for preventing kidney stones lodging in the ureters. It is called ‘aikakengi’ in the College’s Pharmacopoeia Londinensis (1618). Belonging to the family Solanaceae, all its parts are poisonous except the ripe fruit. The green fruit and the rest of the plant contain atropinic compounds and will produce a dry mouth, rapid heart beat, hallucinations, coma and death if enough is taken. As the atropine is only present in the unripe fruit eating one will make the mouth go dry (and it has the most unpleasant taste), but it will also relax the smooth muscle in the wall of the ureter which helps passage of ureteric stones. Culpeper’s observations on its usefulness are supported by more modern observations. When ripe, the orange fruit inside its skeletal outer ‘lantern’ is edible, free of atropine, and delicious. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Physalis alkekengi L. Rosaceae Chinese lantern, Winter Cherry, Bladder Cherry. Distribution: C & S Europe, W. Asia to Japan. Culpeper, in his English Physitian of 1652 writes: Winter Cherry ... are of great use in physic ...’ and recommends them for almost all kidney and urinary problems. In particular he seems to advocate the use of green berries in beer, for preventing kidney stones lodging in the ureters. It is called ‘aikakengi’ in the College’s Pharmacopoeia Londinensis of 1618. Belonging to the family Solanaceae, all its parts are poisonous except the ripe fruit. The green fruit and the rest of the plant contain atropinic compounds and will produce a dry mouth, rapid heart beat, hallucinations, coma and death if enough is taken. As the atropine is only present in the unripe fruit eating one will make the mouth go dry (and it has the most unpleasant taste), but it will also relax the smooth muscle in the wall of the ureter which helps passage of ureteric stones. Culpeper’s observations on its usefulness are supported by more modern observations. When ripe, the orange fruit inside its skeletal outer ‘lantern’ is edible, free of atropine, and delicious. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Physalis alkekengi L. Rosaceae Chinese lantern, Winter Cherry, Bladder Cherry. Distribution: C & S Europe, W. Asia to Japan Culpeper: In his English Physitian of 1652 writes: Winter Cherry ...are of great use in physic ...’ and recommends them for almost all kidney and urinary problems. In particular he seems to advocate the use of green berries in beer, for preventing kidney stones lodging in the ureters. It is called ‘aikakengi’ in the College’s Pharmacopoeia Londinensis of 1618. Belonging to the family Solanaceae, all its parts are poisonous except the ripe fruit. The green fruit and the rest of the plant contain atropinic compounds and will produce a dry mouth, rapid heart beat, hallucinations, coma and death if enough is taken. As the atropine is only present in the unripe fruit eating one will make the mouth go dry (and it has the most unpleasant taste), but it will also relax the smooth muscle in the wall of the ureter which helps passage of ureteric stones. Culpeper’s observations on its usefulness are supported by more modern observations. When ripe, the orange fruit inside its skeletal outer ‘lantern’ is edible, free of atropine, and delicious. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Lamb's-lettuce (Valerianella sp.): entire flowering plant with separate flower. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Myrrhis annua: flowering and fruiting stems with separate flower and fruit. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1778.
  • Corn Salad (Valerianella olitoria Pollich.): entire flowering plant with separate floral sections. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Good King Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus): flowering stem and leaves. Coloured lithograph by W. G. Smith, c. 1863, after himself.
  • Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop.): flowering and fruiting stem with separate rootstock and flower. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1778.
  • Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum L.): flowering plant with separate flower, fruit and seeds. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1772.
  • Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum): leaves and fruits. Pen drawing, partially coloured.
  • Vine spinach (Basella rubra L.): entire fruiting plant. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.): flowering and fruiting stem. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Fame flower (Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss.): two sections of the flowering stem with separate flower and fruit. Coloured engraving after F. von Scheidl, 1776.
  • Joseph's Coat (Amaranthus tricolor L.): leafy shoot with flowers, separate male and female flower and seed. Chromolithograph by P. Depannemaeker, c. 1885, after B. Hoola van Nooten.
  • Dittander (Lepidium latifolium L.): flowering and fruiting stem with root and separate segments of flower and fruit. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 177-.
  • Borage (Borago officinalis L.): flowering stem. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Lactuca sativa (Garden lettuce)
  • Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)
  • Passiflora caerulea (Common Passion flower)
  • Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)
  • Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn or May-tree)
  • Broccoli floret
  • Levisticum officinale or Ligusticum sp (Lovage)
  • Luconghua (Hemerocallis), Chinese woodcut, 1582
  • Jin gua'er (a kind of pumpkin), Chinese woodcut
  • Vicia faba (Broadbean). Also called horsebean
  • Famine Relief Herbal (1593): Lotus root