Introduction –

Let me put down my Puffapod to welcome you to the book, Magical Plants and Herbs. I am, of course, Rosaline Spruce, celebrated Herbologist and discovery of the Gurdyroot (amongst others). Unlike my peers, who were usually more interested in Care of Magical Creatures when we were at school, I had a certain fondness for Herbology. The things that strikes me so much about Herbology is the mystery of the plants themselves; whereas most magical creatures have been discovered (I won't say all because some of them have a tendency of disappearing when humans get too close), there are thought to be hundreds of magical plants still out there that we don't know about. For example, we have barely explored the jungles of Borneo or scoured the ocean floors, and there are bound to be undiscovered magical plant species waiting for us there.

That, therefore, is the main reason I replaced by Puffapod with my pen to write this book. Everyone has a right to know about the most wondrous magical plants there are. Some of them, of course, are known by Muggles, but they aren't aware of the magical properties they possess, so they will also be included. Other plants, such as the Whomping Willow, are unknown to Muggles, and are my favourite type of magical plant. Magical Plants and Herbs was first published in (if my figures are correct) 1938, but the discovery of new plant species every year has forced me to keep churning out new editions. I believe this is the twenty-third edition of the book, and even as I write this, news has reached my ears that a new Flesh-Eating Tree has been discovered in South Africa, meaning the twenty-fourth edition will probably hit the shelves before the year is out.

Now this book has not been written to compete with One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi (I'm sure Phyllida Spore made up some of those plants!) – for, indeed, there are not nearly as many magical plants described in this book – rather, it is aimed towards those who's backs have started becoming disfigured after lugging One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi around with them. To those people, I think you will find this much slimmer tome much lighter. And to anyone else who may have picked up this book, do not stop here – turn over and read about the dozens of magical plants and herbs that live in the wizarding world.

Rosaline Spruce