Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

11th August, 2009 2 Comments

It is always a risky thing to share some truths. For example, I am fascinated by poison and think that the old method of political rival removal is a lost art. Killing someone by poisoning, not artful. But killing someone to inflict a torturous death and not get caught, so brilliant.

Now, I don’t advocate harming others. Neither does Amy Stewart in her book Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother And Other Botanical Atrocities. But it is good to know what evils are lurking in our backyard or harming Ms. Princess Fluffy Winkins, the household cat.

It so happens that books like this will really stick in my head so that I develop what my mother has started calling “Leonardisms”–after Leonard on The Big Bang Theory. Leonardisms are when I start randomly offering up facts about the hydrangeas displayed on the kitchen counter. I do this often. Mostly with useless bits of knowledge. However, Wicked Plants isn’t useless knowledge–knowing what plants to not stick in your mouth could save your life!

The book is arranged in directory-style and includes stories of how myths developed (did you know that corn may have started the vampire stories of Eastern Europe?) and true encounters with deadly flora. There are also specialty sections discussing different problems (pet killers) and families (night shades).

I do have two complaints though. First, in regards to the organization, if looking up a specific plant, it’s not always the most user-friendly as there’s no glossary in the book. Second, while the prints and drawings included are lovely (or gruesome), I would have liked photos of the plants in question. Wandering the forest, I could avoid the poison ivy (to which I am rather allergic), but could easily find myself eating the wrong berry or brushing up against something that should be left alone–all because I wouldn’t recognize them as being dangerous.

Otherwise, it was an entertaining and enlightening read that made me more curious about the natural world beyond my cement jungle. I picked up my copy at Word during a reading and found Stewart’s story-telling style even more delightful in person. If you happen to be in the New York City area, stop by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden where they have a tour of the wicked plants featured in Stewart’s book running until September 6, 2009.

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