Take a pinch of Agrimony...

March 3, 2008 3:11 AM

I'm trying to locate a New Age-y type book that I owned a few years ago. I can't remember what it's called, sadly.

It had a black and khaki green cover, with a kind of Celtic knot pattern. It was a paperback.

Inside was a list of plants, trees, herbs, etc, in alphabetical order. Each plant was divided into subsections, such as cookery, healing, superstitions, history, where the Latin name came from, other uses, etc. For example, under Yew, there was information on how Yew wood was used in the formation of bows in the Middle Ages, how the tree itself is poisonous, it's often associated with old age and death etc, because it's often planted in cemeteries. Under Nettle was information on how the plant is often used as a blood tonic and dying agent for wool, as well as information on cooking it, etc.

I bought this book about 5 years ago, in a UK New Age bookshop (which has since closed down). It wasn't specifically a Wiccan or Pagan book, but I can see why people who move in those circles would be attracted to it. It was a sort of "catch-all" book, that covered everything about each plant.

Any ideas?

posted by Solomon to grab bag (7 comments total)

A few options:
-- This one sounds the closest to your description of the book's content.
-- However, this has a cover similar to that you seem to remember.
-- A few other possibilities here (this one looks quite close regarding content), here (I have this and find it a quick handy reference), and here.
It's very possible that your book -- if it's still in print -- may no longer be published with the cover design you remember and more recent editions may not look like the one you had. Good luck!
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 6:12 AM on March 3

I meant to say that first book I listed looks closest in terms of the organization of the content (eg: plants sorted by healing & cooking, etc.) but it contains a lot of other tidbits about non-plant activities so that first one may not be the book you seek. (The 3rd seems more possible though).
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 6:19 AM on March 3

Sadly, none of those books are it. But, thank you very much for the suggestions. It was a big ask of me, and I appreciate your help.
posted by Solomon at 10:29 AM on March 3

Was it a relatively new publication or was it an older text republished? If it appeared to be an old text, might it have been Arboretum Et Fruticetum Britannicum?
posted by mattbucher at 12:44 PM on March 3

It seemed to be a newer book. I'm 90% sure it was written by a woman. Which of course helps a lot in nailing it, doesn't it? LOL.
posted by Solomon at 1:33 PM on March 3

This is a longshot, but could it have been a print edition of A Modern Herbal?
posted by dilettante at 3:09 PM on March 3

That looks very much indeed like it, dilettante! Thank you very much. :)
posted by Solomon at 2:21 AM on March 4