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Plant Superstitions

Through history, plants have been part of superstitions. Retired MSU Extension Agent Dr. Lelia Kelly talks about some of the superstitions and also some plant-based causes of “supernatural” events. Everyone knows that garlic will keep vampires away but in the Middle Ages people also used fennel seed to ward off evil. Another superstition is that you can use a sprig of basil to tell if your romantic interest is worthy and pure. Potatoes were brought back to Europe from America, but people thought they were the devil’s food because they grew underground.

Dr. Kelly talks about the Salem Witch Trials. She says that modern researchers have studied the symptoms displayed by the bewitched girls. The symptoms can be explained by eating rye contaminated with the ergot fungus.

She also talks about the roots of the legends of vampires. Pale skin, sensitivity to light, and blood around the mouth are some things you think of describing vampires. These things also describe the symptoms of a nutritional deficiency of niacin called pellagra. This deficiency was common in Eastern Europe in the late 1800s, especially among the poorer class when they had only corn to eat.


Related Videos:
Potatoes
Garlic
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  • Home
  • Watch
    • TV Schedule
    • Full Episodes Online
    • How-to and Informational
    • Questions and Answers
    • This Week in the Garden
    • Garden Notes
  • Garden Topic Collections
    • Apple Trees: How-to and Information
    • Peach Trees: How-to and Information
    • Tomatoes: How-to and Information
    • Square Foot Garden Blog
  • Resources
    • Soil Testing
    • Extension Publications
    • Gardening Resources
    • Blogs
    • Organic Gardening
    • Articles
    • Privacy
  • Guests
  • Contact Us
    • Ask a Gardening Gardening Question
  • Search