Aqua Chomp

Aqua Chomp, Denta aqua or Aqua cum dentae, is mostly famous for the numerous Wizarding duels that have been fought over its official name. It is found all over the Mediterranean area and sometimes spills over into the Atlantic Ocean. It is found wherever seaweeds are found within the Mediterranean.

Appearance
Aqua Chomp is almost identical to any and all of the seaweeds which might be found in the Mediterranean. Its variable appearance is one of the reasons it is so prolific as it is almost as a chameleon in the waters. The only difference in appearance between Aqua Chomp and regular seaweed is the small line of purple dots along the edges of the leaves.

Cautions
The reason it is called Aqua Chomp (and has its Latin names of 'Water Teeth' or 'Water with Teeth') is that it can, and will, bite you. The small line of purple dots along the edges of the leaves expand into sizable teeth (1/2" - 3/4") and the leaves curl around you and bite quite hard.

It is rated 2, it is somewhat interesting but no uses have been found for it aside from the uses that seaweed can be put to.

Strangely enough, Aqua Chomp only bites those with active wizarding blood. It will not attack Muggles or Squibs.

Care Of
Very few persons have found Aqua Chomp interesting enough to attempt to cultivate this rampant plant out of its native territory. Those few persons have reported that it requires a salt water solution to live in; that it shrivels up and dies in fresh water. They recommend a temperature of that resembling the Mediterranean. Anything too cold (such as the waters of Northern climates) will, again, kill it quite dead.

Uses
Apart from the sport of luring another witch or wizard into a mass of seaweed and listening to them yell as they are bitten, there has been no known use that has been recognized for Aqua Chomp. (Some Squibs have been known to lure those of wizard blood into said tangles of seaweed in retaliation for injuries or insults they have suffered.)

It has been gathered for hundreds of years with other seaweeds for use as food, dyes and other uses that the seaweeds are regularly put to without anyone of non-wizard blood discovering that it is not your regular seaweed.

Blue Lace

Blue Lace is also known as Secret Potion and Bachelor's Downfall.

Appearance
Blue Lace grows upon the surface of the water in sheltered coves of the Mediterranean. It has a blue-green cast to its form, much like common algae, which it resembles. The identifying mark is the red and yellow flowers that bloom each full moon. These flowers are about the size of a Muggle matchstick head.

Cautions
Blue Lace is rated 4. A person is able to use this plant a maximum of three times. If used more than three times, an unsightly (and permanent) sprouting of purple fungus growth protrudes from the nose and ears.

Care Of
It is remarkably easy to grow Blue Lace. Simply obtain waters from any body of salt water, place it in a pan that is at least 6 inches deep and 12 inches across, and place a handful of freshly harvested Blue Lace within it. The Blue Lace will grow to fill the entire surface of the pan within two weeks.

Harvest all but a handful of Blue Lace when it is flowering. Dry it in a warm dark place on seasoned cedar boards. When it is totally dry, reduce to a powder and store in a dark-coloured, air-tight glass container.

Uses
Blue Lace has only one known magical use at this moment. Women (or men) can drink a tablespoon of this powder in a glass of water and for the next 24 hours will have an appearance of overwhelming beauty. It does not change the outward appearance at all; it is like a glamour is put on anyone who sees the person who has ingested the herb, that they perceive the drinker as overwhelmingly beautiful.

It has been used sometimes as a method of last resort by women who wish their beaus to 'come up to the mark' and propose, hence the alternative name of Bachelor's Downfall.

Brain Coral

Brain Coral is a deceptively complex plant with a host of magical properties. Brain Coral may be found worldwide, sizes and colours may vary. The average lifespan of the larger Brain Coral is about nine-hundred years of age.

Appearance
As the name suggests, this coral resembles a brain. Though generally Brain Coral may reach heights of up to two metres, smaller varieties may be found around the Caribbean. They are spherical in shape- and may be found in a variety of sizes and colour.

Cautions
Brain Coral should be approached with caution. While they are immensely interesting to look at, and are equally as useful, you do not want to get on its bad side. Within the grooves of the brain like convolutions are the Brain Corals tentacles which are usually released at night in order to hunt. The Brain Coral will use its tentacles to strangle its prey and anything that possess a threat to it. If faced with a Brain Coral attack, you should stun the plant, rather than sever it’s tentacles, otherwise it wont be too impressed. While Brain Coral haven’t been known to devour a human it has been known to snack on them. Its mouth can be found at its base where it meets the ground.

Care Of
This highly resourceful plant needs little to no maintenance. Being a hunter and gatherer it is more than capable of caring for itself. It thrives in salt-water but will adjust to fresh water if need be.

Uses
The main uses of Brain Coral include its uses in potions, it is sometimes used in wit-sharpening potions, and potions which aim to increase mental alertness. It may also be used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and the generally aging mind.

Colly Bugle

Colly Bugle is also known as Morning Bread.

Appearance
Colly Bugle grows to a length of about 1foot, in waters that are anywhere between 2 to 5 feet deep. It is easily identified by its strong resemblance to a loaf of French bread -- long, narrow and light brown in colour. While it has roots, they are of a very thin, fibrous nature and easily overlooked. There are no known plants that look anything like Colly Bugle.

Cautions
There are no cautions for this plant. It is rated a 3. It is a useful plant with no known dangerous qualities.

Care Of
Colly Bugle cannot be grown outside of the Mediterranean Sea. All attempts to do so have failed. If you live in that area though, you may grow it for personal use by creating artificial barriers in coves so that you may harvest it more easily.

Colly Bugle goes through its life cycle once a day. It starts as a spore that rapidly enlarges to the size and shape of a small loaf of bread, ripening about daybreak. After it ripens, it is quiet for about 2 hours, then starts swelling rapidly to the size of a large watermelon. Approximately 3 hours after sunrise, it will explode into thousands of spores with long thin roots. The spores then float downwards to fasten to the sea bed with their roots, starting the cycle all over again.

Uses
If harvested at daybreak, Colly Bugle is a most nutritious food. It contains almost everything that is required to maintain life in a body.

You may bake it in a warm oven for 20 minutes or eat it raw. The flavour of Colly Bugle has been compared to everything from fresh baked bread to regurgitated vomit. (It is suggested that you take the time to bake it in the oven.)

If harvested just before it explodes into thousands of spores, Colly Bugle can be used as a soap. Simply put it in a cauldron containing an equal mass of hot water and bring to a boil for one hour. The plant will separate into its component parts. The molecules combine with the water in such a way that the result is a large block of fine soap floating in the cauldron.

If you place a very fine net around the Colly Bugle while it is in the water, and let it explode, you can catch the spores. Use the spores as fertilizer after spreading them out in the warm sun to dry.

Fairy Lights

Fairy Lights is one of the most beloved plants of the Mediterranean. Oddly enough, it appears that Muggles do not even notice the beautiful lights that appear whenever the North Star appears and the plants respond with a multitude of twinkling little lights. It is found in all shallow (5 - 20 feet deep) waters of the Mediterranean.

Appearance
Fairy Lights is a small plant, looking like miniature air ferns. It grows in groups of 12 to 15 inches in diameter and about 2 inches thick. From a distance they look like flattish pancakes floating on the surface of the water. A greyish-green in colour during the day, they show a spectacular change when it is dusk or night and the North Star twinkles overhead. At that time they appear to be discs of scintillating lights, red, blue, green, gold, silver, white, purple and magenta. They will show this 'face' to the world as long as the sky is clear and the North Star can be seen.

Cautions
Fairy Lights is rated 1.While totally beautiful, there is no known use for Fairy Lights except to 'gaze upon it'.

Care Of
Fairy Lights cannot be grown out of the Mediterranean. Many attempts have been made to do so and so far no one has been successful.

Uses
Many wizards who provide travel services in the Mediterranean area promote night-time voyages of the coves and inner areas of the waters. They advertise their voyages as 'Romantic Tours' and many are the proposals that have been made after floating quietly through the Fairy Lights and their gorgeous night-time colours.

Wizarding families who live in an area close to the Mediterranean which has the Fairy Lights along the shoreline, also use the evening times as a kind of 'family get-together'. There is something very soothing and healing about watching the spectacle and those who are with familial difficulties often find them healed after a few hours of looking at Fairy Lights.

Gillyweed

Gillyweed is a magical plant native to the Mediterranean, it is a highly documented plant, though there are many debates surrounding the differences in the duration of the effects of gillyweed in fresh water and salt water conditions.

Appearance
Gillyweed resembles a woven bundle of slimy greenish-grey rat tails. A fresh specimen will have a deeper shade than a stale specimen. Also stale specimens tend to have translucent edges.

Cautions
Gillyweed is ranked 3, being useful with no dangerous qualities. But it is important to remember that whilst there are no known side effects of the uses of Gillyweed, caution should be taken went exploring the depths of fresh water and salt water.

Care Of
It is known to grow in salt water and fresh water without difficulty, also whilst it is native to the Mediterranean it has adapted well to a host of conditions. For larger healthier growths of Gillyweed, it is recommended that the water temperature be kept at a steady twenty-six degrees Celsius, or in a range of twenty to twenty-nine degrees Celsius.

Uses
It is a hardy multi-purpose plant. Aside from its primary use as a diving aid- when ingested it provides the witch or wizard with the ability to grow gills, and webs between the fingers and toes, allowing them to breathe underneath water for a length of time. In fresh water the effects of Gillyweed may last up to sixty minutes, however it is still unclear as to how long these effects last in salt water.

Gillyweed is also used as one of the main ingredients in the popular wizarding drink Gillywater. It is also used sparingly in some potions.

Pillowort

Pillowort (with the hotly contested alternate official name of Exsecratio frangeus) is also known as Teach You, and Sticky Fingers. It is a very rare plant, and only found in seabeds where the electric eels spawn their young. It is thought that the strength of its magical properties is directly derived from the proximity of the electric eels.

Appearance
Pillowort is a most innocuous looking plant. It grows on the bottom of the seabed in little blue fronds reaching from 2 to 6 inches high. The distinctive yellow dots along the edges of the fronds identify it; there is no other known water plant with that coloration or markings.

Cautions
There are no cautions for this plant. It is rated 1. It can be harvested at any time with no prior preparation. You must take care to avoid the electric eels, that is all.

Care Of
Pillowort is a most difficult plant to grow out of it's native environment. Attempts to grow it in a salt water environment have been semi-successful but it appears that there is a definite need for the presence of electric eels for its continued good health. With that in mind, you might try to grow it in a large tub, filled with salt water from the sea. Keep it in a shaded place, with no direct sunlight at all. Harvest when 5 to 6 inches high. Cut off the top 4 inches of growth. Spread in a thin layer on a flat glass dish (be sure to use glass and not any kind of metal) and dry in a dark, warm place. When dry, crumple up into small bits and store in a glass jar in a dark cool cupboard.

Note: Unless you provide the necessary electricity that the electric eels provide, the directions for care will prove to be useless as it won't grow.

Uses
Pillowort is one of the very most useful herbal powders to have in a witches or wizards bag of tricks. As its official name(s) proclaim, it breaks up magic.
Magicus frangeus -
magicus = something of magic
frangeus = to break, to rend asunder
Exsecratio frangeus -
Exsecratio = a word for curses or hexes
frangeus = to break, to rend asunder

(Indeed, if a person could discover a way to grow this plant in an artificial environment, and harvest and sell the herb, they would be rich. There have been many attempts to do this, but so far all are unsuccessful.)

The basic use of this herb is as a protective measure. Just one or two ounces of it, carried in a dragon-skin bag on a string around your neck, is sufficient to render most of the more innocuous curses and hexes asunder. They also are thought to break up the effects of the more potent curses and even perhaps the forbidden curses of Imperio, Avada Kedavra and Cruciatus.

Wizards have attempted to find out if it really does protect against Imperio and Cruciatus, but the experiments are non-conclusive, as it was proclaimed that "their heart wasn't in it". No one has wanted to see if it protects against the Avada Kedavra curse. Or if they did try it, no one was alive to report its success.

Pounce Stink

Pounce Stink is also known as DungPatch, PooPoo, Teacher's Pest, Stinky Poop. Although originally native to and located only in the Mediterranean, Pounce Stink can now be found world-wide.

Appearance
Pounce Stink grows upon the surface of the water and in the Mediterranean resembles a 8- to 10-foot mess of tangled hemp rope. The colour of the rope-like tendrils, both wet and dry, is dark purple. At the ends of the tendrils are clusters that appear roughly like clusters of grapes. These 'grape-like' fruit are red and/or yellow in colour.

Cautions
There are no known cautions for Pounce Stink (except the recommendation that anyone in contact with it know a good scouring charm). It is rated 2.

Care Of
Pounce Stink must be one of the easiest water plants to cultivate. It will grow in both sea and fresh water. Pounce Stink will accomodate itself to living in a very small bucket or spreading out upon a large pond, as well as growing vigorously in the colder Northern (and Southern) waters of the North and South Pole. Just provide water, it will do the rest. No one knows what it feeds upon; it has been noticed, though, that the more sunlight is available, the larger it will grow.

Be aware that if you grow it in a pond, or other place which contains fish, frogs, snakes or other water creatures, that they will devour it with great enthusiasm.

Prayer Flower

Prayer Flower is also known as Kedavra Nigra, Beautiful Sea Flower, Rainbow of the Night, Instant Death and Frothy Lace. Fortunately, it is only found where the waters of the Atlantic Ocean mingle with that of the Mediterranean, at depths of 20 to 50 feet. It is a very deadly omnivorous plant, which means it can feed on any flesh when available to it.

Appearance
Prayer Flower is one of the most outrageously beautiful plants ever found, either underwater or above ground. It ranges from 1 to 3 feet high and grows in colonies of 30 to 40 plants. The plant has tenuous roots that prefer to be shallowly rooted; it can be uprooted in a strong current (as in a storm) and swept along to another location where it can then reroot itself and colonize another patch of 30 to 40 plants.

The fragile appearing leaves appear on 4 to 5 main upright limbs and have a distinctly lacey appearance. The colours of this plant vary from the palest gold to the darkest plum (all the colours of the rainbow), and all colours will often be on the same plant. A colony of Prayer Flower is entrancing to behold.

Cautions
If you see this plant, get away from it as quickly as possible. Prayer Flower is rated 10, and the common name is given to it because of a warped sense of humour by a wizard who said you better say your prayers if you are swimming close to it, in case the current sweeps you into its range.

Care Of
It is not known if anyone has succeeded in growing Prayer Flower out of its native environment.

Uses
The most common use of Prayer Flower has been put to is its lethal effect. The colonies are so very gorgeous to behold that many wizards, witches and/or Muggles have strayed too close and expired. If a person is unaware of their danger and/or unaware of the identity of the plant, it is relatively easy for someone to tempt another to "go see this beautiful sea anemone" and say that they have to get really close in order to properly appreciate it.

All colonies of Prayer Flower have been mapped and are rendered unplottable. Muggle-Repelling charms have been put on all known locations. Unfortunately, due to the ability of Prayer Flower to recolonise, sometimes new colonies appear and are not spotted in time to prevent further deaths.

Stubby Purple Coral

Stubby Purple Coral is also known for its Latin name Coral Acropora Tenuis, as well as Spongy Sea Nettle. It is found mostly in the Atlantic Ocean, and particularly in the waters surrounding the East Coast of Australia, this area is known as the Great Barrier Reef, home to an abundant marine life. However over the years the number of and extent of the Stubby Purple Coral colonies has declined due to over exposure and excessive farming. It is now considered as an endangered species, finding it on the market is rare, and often illegal.

Appearance
Stubby Purple Coral grow in colonies up to twenty centimetres long, the main branch of coral being up to ten centimetres long. A healthy growth of Stubby Purple Coral is a vivid shade of purple, however if the specimen is aged or is ill, then it is usually a shade of murky brown or grey. Stubby Purple Coral grows horizontally not very much vertically and is as its name suggests... covered in stubby purple nodules.

Cautions
Stubby Purple Coral – or Coral Acropora Tenuis is rated 3, being useful with no dangerous qualities. It is important to remember that whilst the Stubby Purple Coral does not pose any danger itself, harvesting the rare coral is likely to land you in more trouble and danger than you would care for.

Care Of
It is still unknown, how to care for the Stubby Purple Coral. Herbologists from around the globe have yet to identify and agree on any particular method of care. One thing that they have been able to agree on however is that it should be protected and that harvesting the sea sponge should be banned until such times as it is no longer in danger of extinction- and even then measures should be put in place to preserve its abundance in the wild.

Uses
Coral Acropora Tenuis has a number of uses. It is first and foremost a primary ingredient in many magical stain removal serums- being one of the most effective in removing dragon blood stains. It may also be used in potions to increase the speed of the properties reactions. Stubby Purple Coral is also used medicinally, small portions in ones diet aids circulation and increases the metabolism, assisting in speedy recovers.

Tingle Weed

Tingle Weed is one of the lesser known magical plants of the Mediterranean. Part of the reason for this lack of recognition is that it is virtually invisible until it comes into contact with a human form. It is found in all parts of the Mediterranean, at a depth of 20 to 30 feet.

Appearance
Tingle Weed looks mostly like long green threads. It is very difficult to see because it has an apparently chameleon-like ability to blend in with its surroundings. It grows to between 2 and 3 feet long. When it comes into contact with a human form, however, it turns a bright scarlet pink and screams.

Cautions
Tingle Weed is rated 4 (useful but might have some unpleasant side effects). The unpleasant side effects are a particular numbness in the areas of the body it comes into contact with and body odour like that of a goat. The numbness lasts up to 4 days; the body odour lasts for up to 3 months.

Care Of
Tingle Weed has been found impossible to grow outside of its native habitat. There was a collective of witches who tried to grow it for a span of years but they gave up on it when outraged Muggles drove them away from the 'gardening site' (a cliffside group of dwellings along a deep channel of the Mediterranean) because they said they smelled too highly of goat.

Uses
For such a very unattractive, stringy-looking plant, Tingle Weed has the most varied number of uses of most of the plants in this volume.

If prepared properly, it creates a permanent and lustrous green dye. This dye does not need a mordant, nor does it require more than a minimum amount of patience to prepare. The dye will colour everything from woven clothes to wooden products and will even put a permanent colour on Muggle articles such as metals and plastics.

Tingle Weed is used for teething babies. It is an almost guaranteed cure for those aching gums when the child is first starting to show his or her teeth. Preparation is the simple boiling of Tingle Weed in a solution of borage water and Hinklespunk (see Hinklespunk below).

Tingle Weed is the only known remedy for Luxemsprat (a devastating disease wherein the sufferer develops bright red hair coming from the ears and nostrils). Chewing on Tingle Weed eliminates the Luxemsprat - even if it does render the mouth parts numb for four days and the person smells like a goat for up to 3 months.

Tingle Weed, if dried properly, can be woven into twine and rope which is virtually unbreakable. Sailors prefer Tingle Weed ropes to those of hemp, cotton or linen. If woven (and rendered magically impotent), it makes an absolutely stout cloth which is amazingly flexible but is also practically indestructible.

Victoria Amazonica

Victoria Amazonica is a species of flowering water plant, and is the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies. Victoria Amazonica is also known as Victoria Regia. It is native to the shallow waters of the Amazon Basin.

Appearance
The large pan like leaves of the Victoria Amazonica may reach up to three metres in diameter and float on the waters’ surface. They have submerges stalks which average between seven and eight meters in length. Victoria Amazonica produce individual lily’s which average forty centimetres in diameter. These flowers are pollinated by beetles. On the first night, the flowers of the Victoria Amazonica are white in colour, on the second night they become pink.

Cautions
Victoria Amazonica is rated 4, it is useful but might have some unpleasant side effects. It has been noted that regular use of Victoria Amazonica results in physical disfigurement and incurable boils.

Care Of
This plant thrives in regions with low light and high humidity. It only grows in fresh water. Whilst it will grow in areas with high levels of sunlight it is best to treat it weekly with a few drops of mooncalf solution.

Uses
Victoria Amazonica possess magical properties which are known to increase ones beauty. Refreshing the skin, making it smoother and more youthful in appearance. De-frizzing and repairing hair, it is also used in colouring serums to cover up greys for prolonged periods of time. Used medicinally in some potions to aid in healing burns.

White Fleabane

White Fleabane is also known as Water Fleabane, Dogwood Dew and Sprouting Ivy. It can be found in all regions of the Mediterranean, but it is most common around the island of Crete.

Appearance
In the water, it is a vivid purple in colour. Taken out of the water, it turns a pale blue with scarlet spots. A small plant, about 12 inches long when fully mature, it has the appearance of a speckled egg with short hair coming out both ends.

Cautions
White Fleabane is rated 5, with the following recommendations if you are planning to use it. Wait until the dark of the moon, and gather only by scooping them up with silver bowls. Be sure that the bowl is sufficiently large to contain the whole plant and at least 3 inches of water between it and the surface of the water. Be very careful to make sure the plant stays purple the whole time while gathering and transporting it.

Warning: Do NOT apparate while transporting White Fleabane. It has been known to explode enroute.

Care Of
White Fleabane is not recommended for growing at home so we're not telling you how to take care of it.

Uses
White Fleabane is the only known cure for Noxious NeverWhen. The Healers at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries value it highly for Noxious NeverWhen, as well as other assorted illnesses.

The effectiveness of White Fleabane was discovered when a wizard apparated in the hospital whilst carrying a specimen for the Healers to look at. It exploded and some of the ejecting pieces were still being hurled when he showed up on the 3rd floor.

A Healer suffering from Noxious NeverWhen was present and one of the exploding particles hit him. (Noxious NeverWhen is easily identified by the sufferer's 2 heads and fungal growth out the ears.) The extra head was immediately vanished and the fungal growth was reduced by half.

The pieces of the apparating wizard were gathered together in the hopes of being able to put him back together, as in the case of splinching, but the attempt was unsuccessful.