Wise women, apothecaries, witches, herbalists: those who cultivate plants for their mystical properties have existed for thousands of years. This book demists the beliefs and rituals of herbal folklore, and is illustrated with pages from herbals held in the archives at Kew. It describes over 50 of the world's most legendary plants and their fabled uses - the screaming mandrake, calming St John's Wort, predicting the weather with seaweed, and the creation of salves for broken hearts, sore heads, protection from evil spirits and even immortality.