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  • Nepal; foot transport in the Khumbu, 1986. A young Sherpa takes a 'breather' by resting his load on a walking staff. Sherpas carry enormously heavy loads on their backs and many of the raw materials and goods which move through the Khumbu are transported in this way. The tree on the right of the picture is a Rhododendron aboreum which grows to fifteen metres and bears the national flower of Nepal. Photographed near Lukla (altitude 28287 metres).
  • Punica granatum L. Lythraceae Pomegranate, granatum malum, balustines. Distribution: E. Mediterranean to Himalayas. The Pomegranate is in the centre of the Arms of the Royal College of Physicians, perhaps for its use in cooling, and therefore for fevers. However it was the sour pomegranate that would have been used as Dioscorides says the sweet ones are unfit for use in agues. Culpeper (1650) makes no mention of the fruit, but says of the flowers ‘... they stop fluxes and the Terms in women.’ In the Complete Herbal and English Physician (1826) says the fruit ‘... has the same general qualities as other acid fruits.’ Of the flowers he says (among other properties) that ‘A strong infusion of these cures ulcers in the mouth and throat, and fastens loose teeth.’ Gerard (1633) says that the cravings of pregnant women can be abolished with the juice, and perhaps it was scurvy which was being treated effectively when he reports that the juice was very effective against splitting of blood and for loose teeth. The dwarf form of this species, Punica granatum var. nana with fruits no more than 3cm across, grows in the border beds. Pomegranate bark can only be sold by registered pharmacies in the UK and used to be used as a vermifuge, with the secondary use that the tincture made from it doubled as a permanent ink. In South Africa the fruit rind is used for diarrhoea and stomach ache, and the bark as a vermifuge, but undesirable side effects make this dangerous. It is reported to be effective against fevers, as a diuretic, to lower blood sugar and to be both antibacterial and antiviral (van Wyk, 2000). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Lycopus europaeus (Gypsywort)
  • Blood clot forming in arterial plaque
  • Allium moly L., Alliaceae. Golden garlic. Bulbous herb. Distribution: Southwest Europe and Northwest Africa. This is not the 'moly' of Homer's Odyssey Book 10 lines 302-6 which describes Mercury giving Ulysses 'Moly', the antidote to protect himself against Circe's poison ''... The root was black, while the flower was as white as milk
  • Ming herbal (painting): Thorn apple
  • The Empress Josephine walking with her retinue in a garden of labelled potted plants which include animated likenesses of prominent figures. Coloured etching by C. Williams, 1814.
  • Ming herbal (painting): [Black] pepper
  • Xiehao, an edible wild plant, Chinese woodcut
  • Cannabis Sativa (Hemp)
  • Ciji cai (edible field thistle), Chinese woodcut
  • Chinese Materia medica, C17: Plant drugs, Caulis impatientis
  • Chinese Materia medica, C17: Plant drugs, Chrysanthemum
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Ambrosia altera.
  • Famine Relief Herbal (1593): Lotus root
  • Ming herbal (painting): Chinese herbaceous peony
  • Mang niu'er miao, a wild plant, Chinese woodcut
  • Luconghua (Hemerocallis), Chinese woodcut, 1582