Plant Magic

by Gregory J. Kenicer


Plant Magic

£12.99

Plants have played an enormous role in human culture since time immemorial. This fascinating book explores some of the many ways in which trees, herbs, ferns, mosses and other organisms such as fungi have been used in supernatural and magical traditions across Europe.

Individual entries are packed with historical examples and anecdote to explain exactly why and how each of the plants listed came to be used in particular ways. Covering such diverse themes as alchemy, luck, curses divination, magical medicine, transformations and witchcraft, this foray into the supernatural side of botany underlines that for thousands of years our use of plants has been astonishingly diverse and has played a vital role in the way we make sense of both the natural and supernatural worlds around us.

 

Dr Greg Kenicer is a botanist at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. His PhD looked at DNA, diversity and evolution of pulses. After its completion he returned to Edinburgh and joined RBGE’s thriving education department, where he has worked ever since.

ISBN: 9781836920113

Publication date: 01/10/2026

Format: Paperback

Extent: 192

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Categories: 2026 Birlinn Summer Titles , Birlinn/Polygon , Natural History

You may also like…

×