SC - Re: Betony

[Jessica Tiffin]

Lord Ras quoth:
> Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis) is a lousewort,  a native of eastern 
> North America. Perhaps your local 'white list' prohibits the importation of 
> this lovely woodlands plant.
I found "betony" and "wood betony" used interchangeably on a bunch of web
sites; although the American wood betony is obviously a different species,
the English plant is described as wood betony as well as betony.  It's all
rather confusing, really.  I suspect Cape Town herbalists don't have it
because it's obscure and English; I don't even know if we have an
equivalent to the American "white list".  However, I was pointed to some
specialist herb growers today, hopefully some mad enthusiast will have a
plant somewhere.

Ariann, the recipe I'm trying to reproduce is from an Anglo-Saxon
leechbook, part of the huge collection made by Thomas Cockayne in the 60s,
called Leechdoms, Wortcunning and Starcraft, which is probably the origin
of your tertiary source mention.

many thanks for all comments,
JdH


Lady Jehanne de Huguenin (Jessica Tiffin)
Chronicler, Shire of Adamastor, South Africa
http://users.iafrica.com/m/me/melisant
Sable, three owls rising argent, each maintaining a willow slip vert.