Book Review - Scottish Plant lore

This lovely book was my Christmas present from youngest son, well chosen from my book list. I look forward to dipping into it when I need some information about plants in Scottish history or I want to cheer myself up reading about some of the great scots names.

The first section covers the history of plants and growing plants in Scotland through time from Mesolithic times right through to the modern age. If you love Scottish history like I do, this gives you another reason to have this book on your book shelf. From hunter gatherers, to farmer to the use of plants as food and medicine and the lore and beliefs about the plants in the local landscape and gardens of the Scots folk, this book has all of that. 

This is beautifully illustrated book about Scottish native plants, gives a description of each plant, its Gaelic, Latin, Scots and English names and the uses this plant had in the areas it was found. There are great quotes from historical references, anecdotes and oral history. The book is arranged into the diverse habitats found in Scotland, with the first page of each section giving a brief outline of the conditions and interesting facts of the history and ecology of these habitats. 

The book is split into plant habitats

The two things I enjoyed most about this book were the beautiful contemporary botanical illustrations throughout the book and the anecdotes and fascinating scots history of plants and their uses. The paintings are sourced from many members of the Scottish botanical are community, the book also makes use of preserved specimens from the RBGE Herbarium and old botanical prints, but it is definitely the paintings that catch the eye. 

"A botanical illustration is an idealised yet scientifically accurate representation of an individual plant that includes all of the distinguishing features in a way that is not always possible to capture in a photograph"

Because there forty six artists involved in the book, the style of illustrations are varied through the book. I particularly liked the fungi and seaweed illustrations, I know not what you'd think.

The anecdotes, uses and lore are fascinating and a real glimpse into people fears and beliefs over the centuries. 

"The Gaelic name for Meadowsweet is Creas Chu Chulain comes from its use by the Irish hero Cu-Chullain as an anecdote to his "Wasp-spasm", a form of berserk battle rage that required him to be bathed in a cauldron of herbs to calm him down"

Then there is Cleavers or sticky Willy which has fifteen scots names! We all know it as that weed that kids slap on your back where it sticks and is annoying to get off. But did you know it was used in another game called 'bleedy tongues' in which children would rasp the rough leaf down the tongue of a rival! 

Did you know the hollow flower stems of dandelions were used as a substitute for bike tyre valves during World War 2 on RAF bases? The hollow stems were also used as a pipe, giving a humming noise like a kazoo, earning them the name bum-pipe! Not what you think, but deriving from the humming sound!

I would thoroughly recommend having this book on your book shelf within easy reach so you can dip in and out. Its long enough to keep you engaged but not too long that you lose interest. Every time I read through it I notice new details in the illustrations. The wealth of historical plant anecdotes makes it an interesting read.

Scottish Plant Lore, An Illustrated flora by Gregory J Kenicer, Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, Birminn, 2020.

ISBN - 978-1-78027-690-8
£20.00



Previous book reviews:

Gardens in Time and Space by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury

The Well Tempered Garden by Christoher Lloyd 

Hummelo by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury

RHS Botany for Gardeners

The Jewel Garden by Monty and Sarah Don

Book Page - you can find all my book blogs here

If you are interested to see what else is on my garden book shelves have a look at this blog

My Gardening book shelves. Happy reading!

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