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Perforate St John's-wort

Hypericum perforatum

Bed: "The Witch's Cave"

Toxicity:

Longevity: unknown

History

Grew, according to legend, from blood the fell from the head of John the Baptist after his decapitation. Another legend tells that it grew from the blood that dropped from Christ on the cross. Naturally such a holy plant would irritate the devil, who tried to ruin it by piercing its leaves with a spear. It, however, healed itself, and the devil always had to flee this plant; which gained a position among the items used by the Church in exorcisms. As a medical plant it was used to treat wounds and for mental illness (exorcism).