Old herbals.
A closer look.
Herbarium Archive explores poisonous plants, sacred flora, luminous fungi and the old apothecary through illustrated essays.
More than a cabinet of poisons.
A mandrake root can be a botanical specimen, a sacred object and the subject of a legend. We ask how these histories became entangled.
The herbarium brings together specimen studies, historical essays and the art of the botanical plate, from Mediterranean roots to the forests of Borneo.
Curiosity, with context.
Begin with the specimen
Common names can hide different species. We keep scientific names, native ranges and historical settings distinct, and give fungi their own place.
Separate evidence from legend
The mandrake scream is a legend. The role of ergot in dancing manias is debated. A historical poison accusation is not proof. These distinctions shape our writing.
Leave a trail to read further
References lead to botanical research, museum collections and historical herbals. We discuss toxicity without recipes, dosages or advice to self-medicate.
Images invite you in. Context takes you further.
Our AI-assisted illustrations evoke hand-coloured botanical engravings. They are modern interpretations, not historical plates or identification guides. Writing and translation also use AI; references and claims deserve a critical reading.
Choose a leaf. Follow its history.
Start with a collection, search for a common or scientific name, or open the latest essay. Every leaf offers another way into the herbarium.
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