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  • A variety of water weeds. Etching.
  • A ruined gateway, with weeds growing out of the top of the piers, labelled in a blind central window: "Greenwich Hospital". Pen drawing with wash.
  • Pond bacteria attached to some water weed.
  • Eupatorium purpureum (Gravel root). Also known as Joe Pye weed.
  • Back ache quickly relieved by Carter's smart weed and belladonna Back Ache Plasters.
  • Back ache quickly relieved by Carter's smart weed and belladonna Back Ache Plasters.
  • Thorn-apple or Jamestown weed (Datura stramonium): entire flowering and fruiting plant. Coloured etching by A. Duménil, c. 1865, after P. Naudin.
  • Presented by the makers of Carter's Little Liver Pills : back-ache quickly cured by Carter's smart weed and belladonna Back-Ache Plasters.
  • Presented by the makers of Carter's Little Liver Pills : back-ache quickly cured by Carter's smart weed and belladonna Back-Ache Plasters.
  • St. John's wort or klamath weed (Hypericum perforatum L.): flowering stem with separate root, flower and seed. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 177-.
  • Acacia melanoxylon R.Br. Mimosaceae. Australian Blackwood. Tree. Distribution: Eastern Australia. Tree. Invasive weed in South Africa, Portugal, California. Local uses: analgesic. Causes allergic contact dermatitis due to 2,6,dimethoxybenzoquinone. Pinnate leaves of young plant drop off and phylloclades are formed instead. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Agriculture: four labourers weeding rice paddies in China, with their master looking on. Engraving by J. June after A. Heckel.
  • Epimedium pubescens Maxim. Berberidaceae. Horny (sic) Goat Weed. Distribution: China. Marketed as an aphrodisiac, with the ability to act like sildenafil and for osteoporosis. Side effects reported include dizziness, dry mouth, vomiting and cardiac irregularity. It is not listed in Wiart (2006) or Wichtl (1994). Its reputation began, apparently, when a Chinese farmer observed increased sexual activity in his goats after they had been eating Epimedium. Given the enormous profits made by medicines such as sildenafil, it is indicative of its therapeutic value that it has not been taken up by a pharmaceutical company. Poor absorption from the gut and lack of information on toxicity may be responsible. It is not licensed for sale in the UK as a Traditional Herbal Remedy (Traditional Herbal Medicines Registration, January 2013) and has not been assessed or approved by the European Medicines Agency's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Zantedeschia aethiopica (L)Spreng. Calla lily, Arum lily. Half hardy annual. Distribution: South Africa. The genus name commemorates Giovanni Zantedeschi (1773-1846) an Italian physician and botanist. Born in Molina he studied medicine in Verona and Padua. He corresponded with the German botanist, Kurt Sprengel, who named the genus Zantedeschia in his honour in 1826, separating it from Calla, where, as C. aethiopica, it had been previously described by Linnaeus. He had broad interests, including the effect of different parts of the spectrum of light on plant growth, reporting in 1843, that red, orange and yellow light are heliotropically inactive. The botanic museum in Molina is dedicated to his memory. Aethiopica, merely means 'African'. The leaves are used as a warm poultice for headaches in ‘muthi’ medicine. It has become an invasive weed in parts of Australia. It was introduced, as a greenhouse plant, to Europe in the mid-17th century, where the long lasting flowers are popular in flower arranging and for weddings and funerals – a curious combination (Oakeley, 2012). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Catharanthus roseus (L.)G.Don Apocynaceae. Madagascar Periwinkle Distribution: Madagascar. It is the source of vincristine and vinblastine, which impair cell multiplication by interfering with microtubule assembly, causing metaphase arrest and are effective medications for leukaemias, lymphomas and some solid tumours. The mortality from childhood leukaemia fell from 100% to 30% once it was introduced - not a drug that could ethically be tested by double-blind trials. These chemicals were initially discovered by investigators in 1958 who were looking for cures for diabetes so tested this plant which was being used in the West Indies to reduce blood sugar levels. There are 70 different alkaloids present in this plant, and some - catharanthine, leurosine sulphate, lochnerine, tetrahydroalstonine, vindoline and vindolinine - lower blood sugar levels. However, the toxicity of this plant is such that this is not a plant to try at home for diabetic management. The vincristine content of the plant is 0.0003%, so two kilograms of leaf are required to produce sufficient vincristine for a single course of treatment for a child (6gm). Fortunately it is a vigorous weed and easy to grow in the tropics. Artificial synthesis has now been achieved. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris): flowering stem. Watercolour.
  • A bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides L.): flowering stem with separate flower sections. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1772.
  • Plantain or ribwort (Plantago sp.): flowering plant with separate flower. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Plantain or ribwort (Plantago sp.): flowering plant with separate flower. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea): flowering stem, flowers and leaves. Pen and watercolour drawings.
  • Chickweed (Cerastium ciliatum): entire flowering plant with separate floral segments. Coloured etching after J. Schütz, c.1802.
  • Enchanter's nightshade (Circaea lutetiana L.): flowering stem with separate flower. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1778.
  • Enchanter's nightshade (Circaea lutetiana): entire flowering plant. Coloured etching by C. Pierre, c. 1865, after P. Naudin.
  • Enchanter's nightshade (Circaea lutetiana L.): flowering stem with separate flower. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1778.
  • A plant (Solanum sp.): entire flowering and fruiting plant. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Charlock (Sinapsis arvensis) and cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis): entire flowering plants. Coloured etching by C. Pierre, c. 1865, after P. Naudin.
  • A plant (Solanum sp.): flowering and fruiting stem with separate sectioned fruit and seed. Coloured etching by M. Bouchard, 1774.
  • Prickly poppy (Argemone mexicana): flowering stem with caterpillar and insect. Etching by J. Pass, c. 1798, after J. Ihle.
  • Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and groundsel (Senecio vulgaris): entire flowering plants.
  • Two plants, possibly a fruiting branch of hawthorn (Crataegus) and a stem of dodder (Cuscuta). Watercolour.