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Calabar bean or ordeal bean, Physostigma venenosum
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Calabar bean or ordeal bean, Physostigma venenosum
Calabar bean or ordeal bean, Physostigma venenosum. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Dr. Willibald Artus Hand-Atlas sammtlicher mediinisch-pharmaceutischer Gewachse, (Handbook of all medical-pharmaceutical plants), Jena, 1876
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Media ID 23152144
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Artus Bean Calabar Gewachse Hand Atlas Handbook Herbal Medical Pharmaceutical Mediinisch Pharmaceutischer Ordeal Poisonous Sammtlicher Toxic Willibald
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EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "Calabar Bean or Ordeal Bean: A Poisonous and Historically Significant Plant" This handcoloured copperplate engraving depicts the Calabar bean, also known as the Ordeal bean or Physostigma venenosum. The Calabar bean is a small, round, and dark-brown seed native to West and Central Africa. The plant is known for its poisonous properties, which have historically been used for various purposes, including as a part of traditional African tribal trials and rituals. The Calabar bean contains the powerful neurotoxin physostigmine, which can cause symptoms such as blurred vision, muscle weakness, and even paralysis if ingested. In traditional African societies, the Calabar bean was used in ordeal trials to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused person. The accused would be forced to swallow the bean, and if they survived the subsequent symptoms, they were considered innocent. The Calabar bean has also been used in traditional African medicine for various ailments, including as a treatment for glaucoma and as a muscle relaxant. However, due to its toxicity, it must be handled with extreme care and only administered by trained professionals. This engraving is from Dr. Willibald Artus' Handbook of all medical-pharmaceutical plants, published in Jena, Germany, in 1876. The Handbook was a comprehensive guide to medicinal plants, featuring detailed illustrations and descriptions. This particular illustration highlights the Calabar bean's unique appearance and historical significance, making it an important addition to any botanical or medical collection. Overall, the Calabar bean is a fascinating and historically significant plant, with a rich cultural history and unique properties. This engraving provides a glimpse into the past, showcasing the importance of traditional knowledge and the role of botanical illustrations in documenting and preserving it.
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