Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon my Darlings!   For today’s post, I have decided to look at some of the Latin names for herbs and how they hold clues as to some of the magickal and medicinal properties of the herb!    I have decided to include nine herbs for this post, as it is an Avalonian number.    Obviously, this post was inspired by my continued study of herbalism!    Without further ado, let’s look at some herbs.

Nymphaea caerulea: Latin name for Blue Lotus, aka Sacred Blue Lily of the Nile

~Blue Lotus, which is actually a Lily that was originally indigenous to the Nile River, is known for many things.   It is a powerfully psychic herb, but also an herb that is an aphrodisiac.    The Latin name of this plant is Nymphaea, which conjures up the image of the Nymphs, who were Faery women of Greek myth!   There are many different types of Nymphs, including woodland Nymphs and water Nymphs.   Nymphs are also incredibly closely related to sexuality, making this Nymphaea herb one that truly embraces the energy of those magickal Faery women!  

Alchemilla vulgaris: Latin name for Lady’s Mantle

~Lady’s Mantle is a powerful herb of protection and a powerhouse for women’s health and fertility.   This is an herb that fascinated alchemists back in the day, which relates directly to her Latin name of Alchemilla.   Her very appearance calls to mind the look of a cloak, which is a doctrine of signatures for her protective qualities!   In my opinion, because the Latin name is so closely related to Alchemy, along with her tie to women’s health, may even link Alchemilla with Aphrodite, since she is known as the Alchemical Goddess in Jean Shinoda Bolen’s book Goddesses in Everywoman!

Artemisia vulgaris: Latin name for Mugwort

~Mugwort is a powerfully psychic herb and one that is many an herbal magickal practitioners’ first herbs that they study.   The Latin name of Artemisia gives the nod to this herb being a great Lunar Ally, as she is named for Artemis, the Wild Greek Goddess of the Hunt and Moon!   Even the underside of her leaves are silvery, which is how you can tell her apart from other herbs when wildcrafting!      

Artemisia absinthium: Latin name for Wormwood

~Wormwood is best known as the psychoactive ingredient of the infamous liquor, Absinthe.   That comes from the second part of her Latin name, absinthium, while the first part of her name is the same as her cousin, the above-mentioned Mugwort.    She is the Green Faery, who is an excellent psychic aid, as well as a powerful digestive bitter (similar to Mugwort).   The full Latin name calls to mind the power of the Moon card in Tarot, both psychically powerful but also possibly dangerous with the blurring of the line between prophecy and lunacy!   However, I will note that her psychoactive ingredients are not as strong as many people believe due to her infamy in Absinthe, as that has much to do with what happens when you mix Wormwood and alcohol.     

Clitorea ternatea: Latin name for Butterfly Blue Peaflower

~Butterfly Blue Peaflower is a memory tonic herb, most famed for her ability to tinge her tea blue!    She is also known to be a Third Eye opener and associated with overall fertility.   It is the fertility part that connects well to her Latin name, Clitorea brings about a deep association with female sexuality and that female organ of great pleasure, the Clitoris!   That makes her a very pleasure-filled and sexy herb in my opinion.

Leonorus cardiaca: Latin name for Motherwort

~Motherwort is an herb that is classically remembered with the saying “Motherwort mothers the mother” which tells the power of this herb as a healing and nurturing one!   The Latin name of this herb is Leonorus cardiaca, which translates to lion-hearted.    This brings to mind the true magickal power of maternal energy, that of protection, and emotional strength!   

Melissa officinalis: Latin name for Lemon Balm

~Lemon Balm is an herb of prophecy and is known for its antiviral action.    The Latin name Melissa makes a good reference to the magickal association of this herb.   Melissas were ancient Priestesses, known for their association with bees and honey, who worked at the Temples of Diana and Aphrodite!    Even modern-day Priestesses at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple refer to themselves as Melissas!   The name shows Lemon Balm to be a very spiritual plant indeed. 

Achillea millefolium: Latin name for Yarrow

~Yarrow is a wound-healing herb that is in many ways unrivaled.   The Yarrow salve that I made as part of my herbalism class is truly astonishing in how quickly it heals cuts, this is truly the magick of plants!   The Latin name of Achillea refers to the ancient Greek Hero and Demi-God Achilles.   In some versions of his myth, he was dunked in Yarrow Tea to protect him from harm, except for his heel (instead of into the River Styx).   This was a version of the myth that I first learned about in my herbalism class earlier this year!   We all know the term Achille’s heel, and that is because his heel was the only place he could be wounded, due to it not being protected by Yarrow.   What I adore most is how the Latin name’s connection to Achilles exemplifies the powerhouse of wound healing this herb is!

Malus domestica: Latin name for the Apple Tree

~Finally, to round out the nine plants I wanted to discuss, I had to go with my beloved Apple!   Apples are insanely powerful magickal allies, with uses ranging from protection to love to healing and beyond.   The Latin name of Malus brings to mind the fact that the Apple is a fruit of knowledge, but also of the Underworld and Otherworld!   She is a fruit that is often maligned in associations with bad omens, or with the Garden of Eden story.    That makes the name of Malus apply to the possible malice that can come from gaining ultimate knowledge!   Lastly, we cannot forget her deep association with Avalon, where she gives her name to this beloved Isle. Plus it also further relates her to not only Snow White’s Evil Queen, but also Maleficent, whose name comes from the same root word!   Plus, on a side note, that further proves my personal interpretation that Maleficent can be read as a fairytale version (or aspect) of Morgan le Fay!

~I hope that you have enjoyed reading my thoughts on the Latin names of some powerful herbal and plant allies.   What is your favorite Latin name discussed here?   Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Tarot Note: I have a page offering tarot and oracle readings for those interested in these services!    I am very happy to be offering these readings to my treasured readers at White Rose of Avalon!  Link to page: https://whiteroseofavalon.life/tarot-and-oracle-readings/

Further Reading

• Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
• Witchcraft Medicine by Claudia Muller-Ebeling, Christian Ratsch, and Wolf-Deiter Storl 
• The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison
• Magical Faery Plants by Sandra Kynes 
• https://www.alchemyofavalontea.com/  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewitchesteasociety (These links are to the website and Facebook Group of my amazing herbalism teacher Suzanne O’Gara for those interested in checking out her work!)