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Re: Wood betony


At 05:57 PM 5/17/98 +1000, you wrote:
>Does anyone know of a symbiotic relationship between wood betony and a type
>of root fungus?
>If so is this with Stachys officinalis or Pedicularis canadensis?
>Any help would be appreciated
snip
>Notice I said "most" plants, however. There are a few plant families that
>are seldom or never mycorrhizal: Brassicaceae, Juncaceae, Chenopodiceae for
>certain, and I believe also Scrophulariaceae..If I'm correct about the
>latter (and I'll see if I can find out tomorrow when I'm back at work and
>have access to books) than Pedicularis is not mycorrhizal. Stachys, on the
>other hand, is a Labiate and is at least potentially mycorrhizal.

I have been researching old celtic herbs for a local Celtic group and
became interested in Betony.
Wood Betony is probably an old Celtic herb (ben =head).I thought I would
write about it for our newsletter.
Betony was highly regarded by the Celts, Romans and Greeks.
It seems to have gradually lost favour. Now it is hardly used at all
although it contains a lot of interesting chemicals with a facinating
range of biochemical activities.
I suspect it was of interest to the Celts  because it may have had
religious or ehthnogenic properties. (I can't prove this)
The only way I can see it could have been an ethnogen is by an association
with a fungus - hence my question. One "new age" book suggested that it was
good for communicating & co-operation between people!?
I have found information on the  history, folklore, botany and
phytochemistry of the plant very sparse and frustratingly incomplete. It
seems that Betony's use may? have been supressed by the catholic church
hence my belief that it could be ethnogenic - or perhaps it was an
abortive used by the witches/midwives/wise women

Michael Bailes.
The Fragrant Garden, Portsmouth Road, Erina. N.S.W. 2250 Australia. (OZ)
 Int fax 61 243 651979  Phone 61 243 677322
 EMAIL: frgntgar@ozemail.com.au
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