Knowledge

I have been thinking and I believe a weekly question to get everyone researching and expanding is a great idea. So this week's question is under the topic of Herbology. And the question itself is borrowed from "The World of Witches Museum":

What plant was called Wolf Grape in old English?

Well that is a good question, as Wolf Grape is known by differnt people as different plants

Wolf Grape is the name for the plant called ( in portugeuse ) lobeira.
In arabic the same name is given to the fruit of the plant called deadly nightshade .
I see from your answer at the world of witches museum site you thought it came from Isaiah 5-2? i thought in Isiah 5-2 it only mentions vines being planted , grapes picked and grapes being trodden ? i may however be wrong though, my knowledge of that section of bible i have to honest is not great.

According to my knowledge of the old english dictionary by the oxford university press though no such entry exsists in their dictionaries for wolf plant? Nor do thay have any enteries for the said name of the plant at the international plant names index? or indeed the old research centre at Kew the royal botanical gardens index either ?

good question though especially for a gardener such as me :-) i look forward to the next one :-)

blessings macus

Wild grapes - The word used here is derived from the verb bâ'ash, "to be offensive, to corrupt, to putrify;" and is supposed by Gesenius to mean "monk's-hood," a poisonous herb, offensive in smell, which produces berries like grapes. Such a meaning suits the connection better than the supposition of grapes that were wild or uncultivated. The Vulgate understands it of the weed called "wild vine - labruscas." The Septuagint translates it by "thorns," akanthas. That there were vines in Judea which produced such poisonous berries, though resembling grapes, is evident; see2 Kings 4:39-41: 'And one went out into the fields to gather pot herbs, and he found a field vine, and he gathered from it wild fruit.' Moses also refers to a similar vine;Deuteronomy 32:32-33: 'For their vine is as the vine of Sodom; their grapes are grapes of gall; their clusters are bitter.' Hasselquist thinks that the prophet here means the "nightshade." The Arabs, says he, call it "wolf-grapes." It grows much in vineyards, and is very pernicious to them. Some poisonous, offensive berries, growing on wild vines, are doubtless intended here.

Cite: http://bible.cc/isaiah/5-2.htm

My book cite was indeed wrong thank you Macus, been years since I cracked a bible open. Though the english had referred to what we now know as Nightshade to be "Wolf Grapes or Wolf Berries".

Nightshade along with Monk's Hood and Belladonna are known to be very toxic if ingested. Though all 3 have known medicinal and protective attributes.

Now that's interesting, for sure.

"wolf berry" is another known name for "Lycium Barbarum". When I was a child we called it deadly nightshade. It grows all over new york state in the wild. This particular plant and I seem to follow each other around.It can be worn around the neck and hung on doors and windows to prevent "black magic" from effecting yourself and your home. It is a neuro-toxin and has been used as anestesia. My mother found out it can cure that nasty fungus people get in their toenails.

All my knowledge on this herb comes from personal use and a ratty old copy of Culpepper. Let me know if you would like more information for this is a personal favorite of mine. :)

great post Draggy, i can't speak for anyone else but i really enjoyed it . are we going to have another question this week ? i hope so. many blessings to you macus

Like the post but maybe waiting till the end of the next week, or maybe a weekend question, just so people are aware to how soon to reply or giving people a chance to put there view forward.

I couldn't agree more.

Wolf Grape or from what I have found out is also known as woody nightshade, the sources used below from information are http://www.english-country-garden.com/flowers/woody-nightshade.htm & http://www.helium.com/items/2216180-plant-profiles-woody-nightshade/print

Also as mentioned it is known by many different names such as: Bittersweet nightshade, deadly nightshade, climbing nightshade. Pleasant berry, woody nightshade, bitter nightshade, scarlet berry, fellenwort, poison bittersweet, dulcamara, blue nightshade, European bittersweet, dwale, fever twig, morel, poison berry, poison flower, pushin-berry, skawcoo, snake berry, tether-devil, violet-bloom

Woody Nightshade is the most common of the Nightshade family. It prefers a habitat of marshes, streams, along fence rows and other similar areas, as well as, weedy lots and thickets. It grows abundantly in swamp forests and requires moistened soil, low elevation stream beds and tolerates well mild shade.

The flowers are followed by glossy, oval berries which start green, turning to yellow and red when ripe. The berries are very poisonous.

The red berries are highly poisonous and ovoid to ellipsoid, fleshy, about 5-15mm in diameter. Each fruit holds about thirty yellow and flattened seeds that are flat and rounded. Berries are so dangerous to ingest that they can paralyze the nervous system, slow circulation, cause vertigo, delirium and convulsions, as well as, causing death. The unripened green fruits are more toxic than the ripened ones. The Solanine that is found in all species of this genus is the substance that creates its toxicity.

Still, traditionally this narcotic has been used to treat warts, tumors, eruptions and various other skin ailments, cough, diarrhea, eye infections and joint aches.

As a medicinal, the plant should only be used by trained homeopathic physicians, herbalists or integrative practitioners. It should not be used or ingested without the expertise of someone trained and certified in homeopathic or herbal medicine or it could be deadly.

It belongs to the same botanical family as the deadly poison, Belladonna, the Solanaceae family. Like Belladonna, it is toxic and deadly, so be very careful with it. You should wash hands, clothing and even tools immediately upon contact with this toxic substance.