#anemone toxins

[thateldribitch]

I wasn’t finding any MerMay prompts I was super happy with, so I made my own!

And if anyone has a hard time reading it, here it is in plain text:

New list after the recommendations! I removed all mine I wasn't super happy with haha

1. Pearl

2. Abyss

3. Bauble

4. Whale Fall

5. Bioluminescence

6. Blood

7. Trench

8. Shipwreck

9. Kelp Forest

10. Midnight Zone

11. Invasive Species

12. Seafoam

13. Sirens

14. Deep Sea Gigantism

15. Coral

16. Atlantis

17. Selkie

18. Nudibranch

19. Deadly Toxin

20. Sunlight

21. Lighthouse

22. Thalassophobia

23. Anemone

24. Mimicry

25. Storm

26. Lifeboat

27. Whirlpool

28. Lagoon

29. Trident

30. Grotto

31. Scale

Credits to my discord buddy Holly, @the-travelling-witch , who added some suggestions that I traded out for my more generic ones haha.

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Clownfish!faunus Jaune: With Teammates like these, Who needs Anemones!

Clownfish are immune to the majority of Anemone Toxins, which is why Clownfish make them their homes. Also, Anemone are Animals. Literally Benthic jellyfish. I almost can't believe it.

[supercritters]

Shōto Aizawa - Eraserhead

Second part of a requested character!

Here is where I really start to show "sorry if I turn your favorite guy into some manner of weird creature". Hydra is a genus of the phylum Cnidaria, which includes more famous members like jellyfish and sea anemones. They are microscopic predators, consisting of a very simple body plan, a "head" with a mouth and a base "foot". Much like their cousins the jellyfish, they don't even have an encephalized neural system - just a nerve net! It's very cool. The most prominent feature that Hydra possess are a series of six "tentacles" around their head, called cnidocytes - that's where the phylum gets its name from - cells powered by piercing stingers called nematocysts. They use these to hunt microscopic prey.

As you may have guessed, those cnidocytes are primarily why I chose this animal for Eraserhead, as a parallel to his binding bandages. They're even located around his neck! I also liked how they aligned with his power, as something that "paralyzes" opponents, much in the same way that nematocyst toxins do.

I also went with a Hydra over another cnidarian like jellyfish, because his ruthless and direct personality lends better to an active predator than a passive one. Of course I could've chosen something like a man-o-war, but I honestly just really wanted to draw a hydra.

Hydra viridissima was chosen because it has a fun green color palette :)

If you couldn't tell this blog is being run by someone with a degree in biology, I'm sure you can now haha

[outofangband]

Poisonous plants and their lore in Beleriand part one

Note: the information provided about the effects of poisonous plants are the effects for real humans; I headcanon that toxin tolerance varies far more widely among elven peoples so I’ll specify

Medicinal plants part one

Flora, fauna, geography and environment of Arda Masterlist

Societal world building Masterlist

My second post in the series will focus on poisonous properties of plants that appear in canon!

Wolfsbane (Aconitum lycoctonum) is a blue flower also called monkshood that grows in mountainous regions. It contains a neurotoxin called acotin that causes gastrointestinal symptoms, burning, tingling, convulsions and can cause death.

In Beleriand it likely grew primarily in the Ered Wethrin and thus was encountered by the Northern Sindar, the Noldor and the Hadorian people. It’s name in Sindarin translates more to blue tower. Although the effects of the poison are mild to elves, it has posed a risk to their animals.

The Noldor occasionally use a substance derived from several plants including wolfsbane as a numbing agent. Tingling or numbness is a common effect of wolfsbane toxin (in both humans and elves)

It’s gained infamy as a killer of wolves; in later ages, some Sindar elves plant it by graves and monuments to depict the fall of the Isle of Wolves and Sauron’s defeat by Lúthien and Huan

The word in the Hadorian language means horse bane and it is often destroyed on site, especially in their fields and along grazing routes. Gifting these petals to another is considered a grave threat

Also little personal note: . I have ideas relating to Aerin about this (not my poisoning post actually though that is on my mind) Also speaking of poisonous plants and post Nírnaeth Dor-lómin, henbane has appeared in several historical accounts of witch trials so I want to write further about that too.

Ragwort is a common flower, often considered a weed, growing in dry fields and steppes. It’s generally considered to be more dangerous to horses than humans but can cause illness if ingested

In Beleriand it likely grew primarily in Dorthonion and in the northeastern plains such as Himlad and parts of Thargelion

Humans (including in real life) can eat honey that’s made from ragwort and the Bëorians did; some report mild psychoactive properties from this honey, leading to its cultivation among some curious artists and scholars

The Avari of Northeastern Beleriand use yellow wildflowers including ragwort in wedding ceremonies

Wood anemone are small white flowers that grow in woodlands.

In Beleriand it likely grew in deciduous forests such as Brethil, the woods of Núath and parts of Doriath

These flowers are not poisonous to elves beyond mild increased oral sensitivity and are occasionally used as garnishes in Doriath, especially in late spring and early summer

In Haladin folklore, clearings and groves where wood anemone grows in abundance are the site of unmarked graves or other dangers

Other notes

Nutmeg is used as a psychoactive agent in Valinor and there are groves of nutmeg plants in the gardens of Lórien

There are plants that have poisonous effects or psychoactive ones only on elves rather than the opposite

In addition to the canon poison plants, I’m also going to do a post about the environmental damage to flora caused by Glaurung and around Angband including the poisonous plants and mushrooms that thrive within Angband often cultivated by Maiar there

[hurdy-girly]

oh that's YOU with the leaf sheep sideblog!!

I enjoy sea slugs on principle (because Good) but i don't know anything about them, what are some of your favourite sea slug facts? :D

HI HELLO I LOVE THIS QUESTION

Sorry for the late reply!! I was writing a very in depth reply to this right after you sent it but tumblr deleted it randomly and I lost my steam so I’m gonna try again lol

The main thing about sea slugs that got me really interested is called Kleptoplasty. The main slug that is talked about in regard to this is Costasiella kuroshimae, more commonly known as the leaf sheep. However, many other species in their clade (called sacoglossa) also utilize it. Kleptoplasty is a process where an organism consumes a plant and then siphons out the chloroplasts from its cells. They store the chloroplasts in themselves and use them to generate energy. The only other animals to evolve this practice are two kinds of marine flatworms, but I’m not very familiar with them. As far as I know sea slugs outside of sacoglossa don’t use Kleptoplasty, though there is another kind (Pteraeolidia ianthina) that farms microscopic plants in itself to get the energy.

Another sea slug practice that got me interested early on is cnidocytes siphoning. Cnidocytes, also known as nematocysts, are the stinging cells that a lot of sea anemones and hydrozoans have. These cells are basically little stingers that hang out and stab whatever touches them before releasing a toxin. Most animals will avoid these, but a lot of sea slugs have learned to eat them. They don’t just digest them, though. They will take these cells and, similarly to the chloroplasts, will remove them from the other food and utilize them themselves. They keep these in cnidosacs, which from what I can tell are specific to aeolid sea slugs. The most discussed species that does this is Glaucus atlanticus. They look really cool and float in the water. Touching them is really dangerous, especially because they concentrate the venom in their cnidosacs and make it more deadly than it originally was in the original species.

I guess the main thing that drew me to sea slugs is the fact that so many of them I criminals, looking at it. They’re fascinating and gorgeous as well! I’ve been crocheting a bunch of them since January. I think I’ve made over twenty by now? I lost count. Some of them are based off of real slugs and some aren’t. My first ones were all dorid, meaning they had little gill plumes on their backs, but I just started making an aeolid one (the ones with all the cerata ((the little horn like outgrowths)) on their backs).

One last thing: these guys are TINY. The pictures make them seem much bigger but do not be mistaken, these guys are SMALL. Most of them are like. Rice grain size. Some are bigger, the biggest (Aplysia vaccaria) is like 39 inches, but most are SO SMALL AND I LOVE THEM. I have not seen one in person yet but I need to within this year or I will spontaneously combust.

Thank you for the ask!!! Sorry again it took so long to reply, but it was really fun to look back at the stuff that got me into them. I think I’ll finish this off with some more pictures of various slugs that I love :3

[boxeom]

Starve and Gorge: 1,399 (Sukuna wip)

Contains: (cw.) mentions of death, (cw.) human + animal experimentation, mc is strange and Sukuna is enamored by it.

[This wip comes from an unfinished series, you can see the other two snippets here]

You're sitting beneath the shade of a zelkova, scribbling away so furiously at your thick leather bound journal that Sukuna wouldn't be surprised if a fire sparked on the paper. He finds himself slowly drifting over to you.

He peers around your head, easily able to see what it is you're looking at with his height. In front of you is a strange looking plant. A squat palm tree with sprouting viridian, sharp, thin leaves displays as if some sort of large flower- at the center, a beige and fuzzy crown of some sort sits. It reminds Sukuna of a sea anemone. In your journal, you sketch a remarkably detailed rendition of the plant, notes that Sukuna truly cannot describe as anything other than chicken stratch jotted in the margins. Your pencil works deftly- entirely focused on capturing every minimal shade and curve of the plant's center.

"The sago palm." You say without looking back at Sukuna. "I've yet to dissect and consume it." "Is it fatal?" "So I've heard. I will survive, though. I've had much more potent toxins in my system before."

"How much of something are you required to inject for your cursed technique to register it?"

"Not much at all. Once it has been fully taken in, I will immediately be able to use the properties of the poison I've extracted from whatever it is I've injested. To test their abilities, I often visit villages or find a fellow traveler, maybe a large enough animal or a curse." Sukuna raises a brow at that. "You seek others to experiment on?" You give Sukuna a look of confusion- as if he has asked something that should be more than obvious, "Well, of course. How else will I gain the full spectrum of knowledge? I myself am unable to experience the results."

"How many have you killed?"

You motion for Sukuna to sit beside you in the grass. He reluctantly does so. He watches as you flip through your pages backwards as if to find an earlier entry out of the many. He catches flashes of other drawings. Animals, plants, detailed sketches of dissections, corpses (he assumes a result of your doing), and paragraphs after paragraphs of text. You stop at a certain page, maybe fifteen or so pages from where you had been previously writing. "My last subjects were..." You skim through the heavily inked page. "Ah, here, subject 1,397 and 1,398. Oleander. I prefer to add to my collection first before committing to my experiments. So it has been some time since I've gotten to see my poisons in action." You nearly lament this fact, a frown on your face as your thumb longingly glides across the number 1,398.

There's a moment of brief silence. The birds sing and the breeze sways through the canopy that shades the two of you above. Sukuna contemplates your defeated expression.

"Shall we find the 1,399th?"

[nomsfaultau]

SCP Sleepy Bois Inc as animals

(specifically animals they aren’t usually coded as) (because otherwise what’s the point)

Philza—African Jacana

He’s just a dad carrying around his chicks. What more do you want from him? Male African Jacana are known for raising hatchlings on their own. Gives people nightmares when they’re just trying to protect their chicks. They also use their long toes to walk on water (really on floating vegetation but shh) and are referred to as Jesus birds. Other than the fact Philza is a god, he occasionally forgets to be affected by gravity since pretending to be a person is pretty hard. (I’m ignoring the few decades Philza accidentally spent as a crow so hard rn.)

Tommy—Clownfish

This is 100% serious actually. Specifically a red bullet hole clownfish, to mimic Red’s splatters. Tommy’s very much a small fish in a big pond. Clownfish purposefully coat themselves in sea anemone toxin that is harmless to them but really bad for anyone else, much like Red. If we make The Blood God an anemone in this analogy, Tommy is always running to him for safety, luring in doomed predators that that are slaughtered in a symbiotic relationship between the two. Tommy is also the dominant male of the group, and should the female die he’ll become trans— wait. Maybe not that last fun fact, since Tommy is the most reliably cishet in Fault. [edit: who saw that man coming out as bi curious???] Also yes fine he’s a silly goofy guy who acts flashy for attention.

Tubbo—Honey Guide

What animal could better represent the hive save for a bird that lures people to bee hives? Since, again, this challenge is about avoiding the obvious answer. Much like Tubbo, these little guys have a pretty positive mutualistic relationship with humans. Anyway, this friendly and helpful passerine is also a brood parasite! They lay eggs in the nests of others and then murder the other chicks so that the honey guide is raised by unsuspecting parent birds. This fits well with Tubbos’ design as a changeling that’s meant to mimic humans in order to replace individuals (by adding them to the hive mind). Worked decently since Tubbo was raised by humans (ignoring how badly it went with the first nest they infiltrated).

Wilbur—Polyphemus Moth

Named of course after the famous cyclops, I thought the name and appearance were a fantastic reference to the void embedded in half of Wilbur’s face. Beyond that, moths are very night coded, much like Wilbur, though are uncontrollably attracted to the light (Philza). Notably, a Polyphemus moth eats 86,000 times their body weight in the 56 days that it lives, which plays well to Wilbur being a Devourer of All and a man who’s extremely aware he isn’t going to have a long life span. Plus their spooky design fits in with how much of a flashy edgelord Wilbur is. Only problem is they spend almost half their existence in their silk cocoon and Wilbur is a chronic insomniac who could NEVER.

The Blade—Hippopotamus

Both are insanely aggressive and deadly, and are the top of the food chain (once adults). Plus the semi aquatic nature of the hippopotamus plays well into the (arguably literal) sea of voices from which The Blade has to fight his way out of or else succumb to the fathoms. Just like how hippos can’t actually swim? Both faster than anyone would prefer them to be able to move. uh. About the same size. uhhh. They both can’t sweat and so enjoy a good mud bath..? could be unethically hunted for ivory…….? Bro he’s so pig idk

[fishenjoyer1]

Fish of the Day

Today's fish of the day is the bluebottle fish!

The bluebottle fish, also called the man-o-war fish, scientific name Nomeus gronovii, is known for their strange lifestyle. Similar to  that of clownfish and their life in the anemone, the bluebottle fish lives in and around the tentacles of the Portuguese man o' war or bluebottle. Little is known about this species due to their hard to reach nature, as mon o' war are known for their stinging cells, filled with venom that can induce something similar to an allergic reaction, which can be fatal. However, unlike the clownfish living in anemone, the blue bottle fish does not have a mucus membrane preventing them from being stung.

As opposed to what may be assumed, when hearing a fish such as the bluebottle fish is living within a highly venomous animal, the bluebottle fish is not immune to being killed by the man o' war. The fish primarily avoids firing the nematocysts by swimming around them, physically avoiding the larger tentacles. This is made easier by the 41 vertebrae within the bluebottle fish and surprising agility. There is also a complex skin layer, containing at least 1 antibody and giving them the ability to withstand the toxin to limits far above any other fish. The bluebottle fish uses this to feed on the tentacles and gonads of the man -o' war, and they can get as large as 39cm in length.

This animal lives in the deep pelagic zones of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, following where man o' wars can be found. They occur between 200 to 1,200 meters of depth, usually in higher waters. During reproduction, this fish will release eggs as the male, who is within the same man o' war, fertilizes. This can give between 100 to 1,000 offspring at a time, and these eggs are adapted to open water. After hatching (4-5 days after they are laid), these larvae will live in the open ocean, surviving off of plankton and zooplankton. This is until they find a man o' war and settle down at the top of the bell, where they will remain until more agile.  Juveniles are between 5-15cm in length, and display a bright blue color that will fade in adults. Their lifespan lasts up to 5 years

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

[thewitcheslibrary]

Herb Correspondences and spell work ingredients!!

tip me!

A-B

Acacia: Protection, mental and spiritual development, money, platonic love, and friendship. Used to anoint candles and censers, as well as to consecrate chests or boxes containing ritual implements. Use incense to induce a contemplative mood. Aconite: Use aconite as a magical wash for ritual equipment and spaces. Wear as an amulet to protect against vampires and werewolves. Poisonous; do not ingest. Acorn: Best wishes, protection, knowledge, and personal strength. A dried acorn makes a great natural amulet for maintaining a young appearance. Adam and Eve Root: The Eve Root is mostly utilised by lovers, with one partner carrying it and the other carrying the Adam root. This keeps your sweetheart loyal to you and discourages rivals. Carry both roots in a tiny purse at all times to attract love or make a marriage proposal. Adder’s Tongue: Stops gossip and slander, promoting healing. Sacred to snake goddesses. Used for divination, healing magick, moon magick, and dream magic.

African Violet: Spirituality, protection, and healing. Wear an amulet for protection. Keep in the house to boost spirituality. Frequently used as incense during the Spring Equinox Sabbat. Agar Agar: Encourage joy and prosperity, and draw opportunities and benefits into the home. Mix with Fast Luck powder and apply to hands before playing bingo or other games of chance. Agrimony: Overcoming fear and inner obstacles; releasing negative emotions. Also used to reverse spells. For the greatest benefits, sew into a dream cushion using Mugwort. Use as a wash or oil to boost the effectiveness of any type of healing ritual. Protects against bad creatures and toxins. Ague: Protection and Hex Breaking. Used in amulets to ward off evil. Mix with incense and burn to break a hex put on you. Also known as: ague root, ague weed.

Alder: Linked to divination, music, poetry, wind magick, weather magick, teaching, and decision-making. Also used in rites of death and dying to protect the deceased. Alfalfa: Money, wealth, and anti-hunger. Keep a tiny jar in the cabinet or pantry to guard off poverty and hunger. Burn in a cauldron and use the ashes as amulets to guard against hunger and poverty. Also called Lucerne, Buffalo Herb, Purple Medic.

Alkanet: Purification and prosperity. Protects against snake bites and reduces fear of snakes. Burned as incense to replace negativity with positive energy. Also called: Anchusa, Dyer's Bugloss, Orchanet, and Spanish Bugloss.

Allspice: Money, luck, healing, and acquiring treasure. Adds resolve and vigour to any spell or charm. Burn crushed allspice to bring good fortune and money. Use in herbal baths to promote healing. Also called: Jamaica Pepper.

Almond: Wisdom, money, abundance, and success. Invokes the healing energies of the gods. Offers magical assistance for overcoming dependencies and addictions. Associated with Candlemas and Beltane. Carry, wear, or burn as incense to attract abundance. Also called Greek Nuts, Shakad.

Aloe: Protection and luck. Place on a loved one's grave to bring peace. Thought to alleviate loneliness and promote achievement. Hang in the home to bring luck and protection to the people who dwell there. Grow in the home to prevent against domestic mishaps. Burn during the night of a full moon to attract a new lover on the new moon.

Althea Root: Burn or throw in a sachet to provide protection, soothe an angry person, and boost psychic abilities. Keep on the altar or light candles to invite good spirits. Alyssum: Protection and moderation of rage. Amaranth: Healing, calling spirits, mending broken hearts, bulletproofing, and becoming invisible.

Amber: Protection from damage, outside forces, and psychic attacks. Mental clarity and focus. Transforming negative energy into positive energy. Ambergris: Improving dreams and psychic enterprises, attracting men. Anemone: Healing and Protection

Angelica: Very potent protection herb - repels negative energy while attracting positive energy; forms a barrier to bad energy. Use in healing and exorcism incenses, or scatter for cleansing, protection, and uncrossing. Add to incense to aid healing, or use in the bath to erase curses, hexes, and spells. Also supposed to encourage temperance. Sprinkle ground herb in your shoes to avoid fatigue and weakness. Sprinkle around the exterior border of the house to guard and exorcise. Burn to reunite with a long-lost sweetheart. Also known as: Masterwort, Archangel, Garden Angel, Angelica Root.

Anise: Used to fend off the evil eye, provide happiness, and boost psychic abilities. To avoid unsettling nightmares, fill a sleep pillow with anise seeds. Use to invoke Mercury and Apollo. Perfect for aromatherapy. Use in purifying baths alongside bay leaves. A branch of Anise placed on the bedpost can restore lost youth. Use for protection and meditation incenses. Also called: Aniseed, Anneys, and Anise Seed.

Apple: Love, Garden Magic, Immortality, Friendship, and Healing. Put seven apple seeds in a bag with Orris Root to entice sexual love. Used in ceremonies to honour fertility gods and goddesses. Samhain is known as the 'Feast of Apples' because apples are believed to be the nourishment of the dead. Symbolises the soul and is burnt on Samhain to honour individuals who will be reborn in the spring. When performing a house blessing, cut an apple in half and consume half while leaving the other half outside the residence as an offering. Also known as: Fruit of the Underworld, Fruit of the Gods, Silver Branch, Tree of Love.

Apricot: Love. To attract love, use love sachets with leaves and flowers or carry apricot pits. Arabic Gum: Protection, psychic and spiritual development, money, platonic love, and friendship. Used to anoint candles and censers, as well as to consecrate chests or boxes containing ritual implements. Use incense to induce a contemplative mood. Also called: Acacia, Gum. Arabic Arnica Flowers Increases psychic abilities. Arrow Root: purifies and heals; it may be used instead of cemetery dust.

Ash: Sea spells/magick/rituals, image magick, invincibility, drowning prevention, general protection, and luck. Burning an ash log during Yule promotes wealth. The leaf of this plant is utilised to ensure trip safety. Place one spoonful of ash leaves in a basin of water in the bedroom overnight and discard in the morning; doing so everyday is supposed to prevent disease. Asofoetida: Protection and eradication of negative. Burned to make someone leave you alone. Be careful that while this plant is potent, it has an unpleasant odour when burned. Also known as: Devil's Dung, Food of the Gods.

Asparagus: Male Sex Magic Aspen's: abilities include eloquence, clairvoyance, healing, and anti-theft. Plant in your garden to deter robbers. Aster Love

Also known as: China Aster, Michaelmas Daisy, Starwort. Astragalus Root: Protection and Energy. Avocado: Love, passion, and beauty. Also used for sex magic. Also called Ahuacotl, Alligator Pear, and Persea. Azalea: Happiness, gaiety, and a light spirit, first love. Poisonous; do not ingest.

Bachelor Buttons: Love Also called Devil's Flower and Red Campion.

Bakuli pods: It is difficult to discover magic items that are also utilised in sachets and potpourri. Balm of Gilead Tears: promotes love, manifestation, protection, healing, stress reduction, and aids in the grieving process after a loved one's death. Use in love sachets to heal, protect, and restore a damaged heart. Use to dress candles for any type of magical healing. Burn to attract ghosts. Also known as: Poplar Buds, Balsam Poplar, Balm of Gilead, Mecca. Balsam, Balesan, and Bechan

BalmonyA figwort plant that is powdered and used for hexing. Perseverance, patience, and steadfastness. Associated with tortoises or turtles. Also known as: Hummingbird Tree, Bitter Herb, Snake Head, Turtle Head, Turtle Bloom.

Balsam Fir: promotes strength, insight, goal achievement, and positive transformation. Balsam fir needles may be used as incense on charcoal and are also an excellent addition in sachet bags, dream pillows, and potpourri blends. Bamboo: is associated with breaking hexagrams, wishing luck, and providing protection. Carve a desire into bamboo and bury it in a remote location to make your wish come true. Carry a piece of bamboo for good fortune.

Banana: symbolises fertility, potency, and fortune. Banyan: symbolises happiness and luck. Barberry: Cleansing, sorcery, atonement, and breaking free from another person's power or control.

Also called: Witches Sweets. Barley: Love, healing, and protection. Harvests. Spread on the ground to keep evil at bay. To relieve pain, tie barley straw around a boulder and hurl it into a river or lake while visualising whatever discomfort you are experiencing. Basil: Love, exorcism, riches, compassion, and protection. Removes uncertainties, worries, and weaknesses. Drives away harmful spirits. Associated with Candlemas. Continue to go forward in a positive manner despite the threat. Strewn on floors to guard against evil. Sprinkle an infusion of basil outside the building where you intend to work for good luck at a job interview (but don't be seen!) or throughout your business to attract money and prosperity. Wear or carry to help attract money and wealth. Also known as: Common Basil, Sweet Basil, St. Josephwort, St. Joseph's Wort, Tulsi, Tulasi, Krishnamul, Kala Tulasi, Witches' Herb, Alabahaca, American Dittany. Bat's Head Root: Use in spellwork, rituals, gris gris bags, and other ways to get wishes. Bay Laurel: Purification, blessing of homes and businesses, and clearing out uncertainty. It attracts romanticism. Keep a potted plant to protect your home from lightning. Place in a dream pillow to improve sleep and generate prophetic dreams. Also called: Bay, Sweet Laurel, Sweet Bay, True Laurel, Lorbeer, Noble Laurel, Baie, and Daphne. Bay Leaf: protection, good fortune, success, purification, strength, healing, and psychic abilities. Write your wishes on the leaves, then burn them to make them come true. Place beneath the pillow (or in a dream pillow) to generate prophetic dreams. Place in the corner of each room in the house to protect everyone who live there. Carry bay leaf to defend oneself from dark magic. Bayberry: Good luck, healing, and stress alleviation. Burn a white candle with bayberry bark for good luck and money. Also Known As: American Vegetable Tallow Tree, Myrtle, Wax Myrtle, Candleberry, Candleberry Myrtle, Tallow Shrub, American Vegetable Wax, Waxberry, Pepperidge Bush, Berbery

Bedstraw (Fragrant): Love and Lust. Bee Pollen: promotes friendship, attraction, love, strength, happiness, and helps overcome sadness.

Beech: symbolises wishes, pleasure, and divination. Improves literary talents. To promote inspiration, place a beech leaf between the pages of the Book of Shadows. Beeswax: Traditionally used in the production of candles, ornamental seals, natural polish, protective finishes, and as a foundation for herbal salves. Beetroot: Love. Beetroot juice can be utilised as ink in love magick or to replace blood in spells and rituals.

Belladonna: Healing and forgetting previous loves. When installed in a concealed location within the home, it provides protection. Place on a ceremonial altar to honour the deities and provide energy for ceremonies.

Do not consume this deadly toxin. Also known as: Banewort, Deadly Nightshade, Sorcerer's Berry, Witch's Berry, Death's Herb, Devil's Cherries, Divale, Dwale, Dwaleberry, Dwayberry, Fair Lady, Great Morel, Naughty Man's Cherries

Benzoin: Purification, prosperity, easing tension, removing anger, reducing irritability, relieving stress and anxiety, and conquering depression. Encourages generosity and attention. Good to burn while utilising the Tarot or to achieve intellectual achievement. Smoulder for cleansing. It is thought that incense containing benzoin, cinnamon, and basil will attract consumers to your company. Also Known As: Snowbells, Storax, Gum Benzoin, Siam Benzoin, Siamese Benzoin, Benzoin Gum, Ben, Benjamen.

Bergamot: Money, wealth, protection from evil and disease, memory enhancement, interference prevention, and comfortable sleep. Carry a sachet when gambling to bring luck and money. Very effective at attracting success. Burn during any ritual to boost its power. Also called: Orange Mint. Betel Nut: Protection and Banishment.

Bilberry Bark: is used for protection. Also known as Whortleberry, Black Whortles, Whinberry, Huckleberry, Bleaberry, Blueberry. Airelle Bindweed: Used for curses/hexing. Birch: symbolises protection, exorcism, and cleansing. A birch tree planted near the residence is thought to guard against lightning, infertility, and the evil eye. Also known as: White Birch, Canoe Birch, Paper Birch, Tree of Life, Lady of the Woods.

Bird's Eye chilies: Cursing, heating spells, and making Hoodoo powders like hot foot powder and goofer dust are all done with plants from the Solanaceae (nightshade) family. Bistort: Fertility, divination, clairvoyance, and psychic abilities. Carry a sachet for fertility and conception. Add to any herbal concoction to enhance divination. Burn frankincense during divination or to increase psychic abilities. Carry a yellow flannel bag to attract prosperity and good fortune. Sprinkle bistort about the house to repel poltergeists. Also known as: Bistort root, dragonwort. Black Cohosh: symbolises love, courage, protection, and power. Use as a love sachet or in the bath to avoid impotence. Carry in your pocket or as an amulet to boost your confidence and strength. Sprinkle throughout a room to ward against evil. To guarantee a long and happy life, make a herbal infusion and add it to bath water. Burn as a romantic incense. Put in a purple flannel bag to protect yourself against accidents and untimely death, as well as to prevent people from doing you wrong. Also known as Black Snake Root, Bugbane, Squawroot, Bugwort, Rattleroot, Rattleweed, Rattlesnake Root, and Richweed. Black Haw: means protection, gambling, luck, power, and employment. Carry in your pocket while looking for job, if you are experiencing troubles at work, or if you are requesting a rise. Also called: Devil's Shoestring, Stagbush, and American Sloe. Black pepper: is used to banish negativity, perform exorcisms, and defend against evil. Black Walnut: is believed to provide access to spiritual energy, granting blessings and wishes. Blackberry :symbolises health, protection, and money. Sacred to Brighid. Leaves and berries are supposed to bring riches and healing.

Blackthorn Thorns: Thorns have historically been used to curse and protect. The thorns of the Blackthorn tree have traditionally been employed in witchcraft to puncture wax or linen poppets, cursing the intended victim.

Bladderwrack: Protection, sea and wind spells, money, psychic abilities, and attracting clients. Wear a charm for protection while travelling, especially on water. Also called: Kelp, Seawrack, Kelpware, Black-tang, Cutweed, Sea Oak, and Sea Spirit. Blessed Thistle: Purification, protection from negativity and evil, hex breaking. Carry for strength and protection. Place a bowl of holy thistle in a room to boost the vigour and spirit of its people. Men who carry thistle improve their romantic relationships. Also known as: Holy thistle, Saint Benedict thistle, Spotted thistle, Cardin.

Bloodroot: symbolises love, protection, and cleansing. Steep in red wine for the full moon cycle to serve as a "blood offering" for rituals that require it; DO NOT DRINK THE WINE. Place in windows and entrances to keep curses and evil spirits away. A popular root for usage in voodoo to counteract hexes and spells cast against you. Also known as: Red Root, Red Indian Paint, Tetterwort, Blood Root, Indian Paint, Pauson, Red Paint Root, Red Puccoon, Sanguinariat. Blowball: Love and wishes. Carry a crimson bag to grant desires. When looking for love, blow in all four directions. Blue Cohosh: Empowerment, cleansing, attracting money, ending the cycle of love, and pushing away evil.

Blue Violet: Love, inspiration, good fortune, and protection from all evil. Carried to protect, enhance fortune, and shift luck. Mixed with lavender to arouse passion and affection. Worn to soothe tempers and promote sleep. Also called: Sweet Scented Violet.

Bluebell: Luck, honesty, and friendship. Incorporate into funeral and dying traditions to soothe and relieve the pain of those left behind. Also known as: Jacinth, Culverkeys, Auld Man's Bell, Ring o' Bells, Wood Bells. Blueberry: Protection. Though not encouraged, blueberries are thought to induce confusion and turmoil when thrown in an enemy's doorway or path.

Boneset: is used to protect, exorcise, and fend off bad spirits. Sprinkle boneset throughout the house to ward off evil and negativity. Burn a black candle etched with the enemy's name as incense to curse them (not recommended due to karma). Also known as Feverwort, Agueweed, Crosswort, Eupatorium, Indian Sage, Sweating Plant, Teasel, Thoroughwort, Vegetable Antimony.

Borage: symbolises courage and psychic abilities. Float the flowers in a ceremonial bath to lift one's mood. Carry or burn as incense to boost confidence and character. To fight off bad spirits, sprinkle Borage infusion about the house. Also called: Bee Bread, Starflower, Herb of Gladness, Bugloss, Burrage, and Cool Tankard. Brazil Nut: Good luck in love affairs. Brewer's yeast: is used to make face mask remedies. Brimstone: Removes or prevents a hex on you; eliminates an enemy's power over you. Burn at midnight by your back door to keep off evil. Also called: Sulphur Powder.

Broom Tops: For purification, wind spells, divination, and protection. Sprinkle broom tops about the house to ward against evil. Also Known As: Irish Broom, Scotch Broom, Besom, Broom. Buchu :represents divination, wind magic, psychic abilities, and prophetic dreams. Add buchu leaves to the bath to help you predict the future. Also known as Bucco, Agathosma Betulina, Bookoo, Bucku, Buku, and Bucco.

Buckeye: Divination, good luck, and the attraction of money and fortune. Carried whole, anointed with money oil, and/or wrapped in a dollar bill, for a consistent increase in money flow. A famous hoodoo charm among gamblers. Carry in your pocket to prevent against arthritis. Also called: Horse Chestnut.

Buckthorn: Sorcery, elven magic, and dispelling enchantments. It is used as a luck generator in legal problems and to win in court. Place Buckthorn branches near doors or windows to ward off evil and negative vibes. To create a wish, stand in an open place facing east and concentrate on your request; then turn to your left until you are facing east again, sprinkling buckthorn bark powder (or an infusion including buckthorn bark) as you go. Also called: Arrowwood, Black Dogwood, Black Alder Dogwood, Black Alder Tree, and Persian Berries.

Buckwheat: Money, protection, and fasting. Use charms and rituals to get treasure, riches, and fortune. BurdockUsed for cleaning magick when feeling really bad about oneself or others. Use in protective incenses and spells. Rinse with a burdock decoction to relieve negative sentiments about yourself or others. Also known as: Bardana, Burr Seed, Clotbur, Cocklebur, Hardock, Hareburr, Hurrburr, Turkey Burrseed, Fox's Clote, Happy Major, Lappa, Love Leaves, Personata, Beggar's Buttons

Burnet: Used for protection, ritual instrument consecration, and counter magick, as well as to heal despair and despondency. Also called: Italian Pimpernel, Salad Burnet, and Greater Burnet.

Butchers' Broom: Wind spells, divinations, protection, and psychic abilities. Butterbur: is used for love divination and to boost spirits via optimism and trust. Also called: Bog rhubarb, butterdock, umbrella plant, lagwort, and sweet coltsfoot.

tip me!

[typhlonectes]

Venom trade-off shapes interspecific interactions, physiology, and reproduction

Surum et al.

Abstract

The ability of an animal to effectively capture prey and defend against predators is pivotal for survival. Venom is often a mixture of many components including toxin proteins that shape predator-prey interactions. Here, we used the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis to test the impact of toxin genotypes on predator-prey interactions. We developed a genetic manipulation technique to demonstrate that both transgenically deficient and a native Nematostella strain lacking a major neurotoxin (Nv1) have a reduced ability to defend themselves against grass shrimp, a native predator. In addition, secreted Nv1 can act indirectly in defense by attracting mummichog fish, which prey on grass shrimp. Here, we provide evidence at the molecular level of an animal-specific tritrophic interaction between a prey, its antagonist, and a predator. Last, this study reveals an evolutionary trade-off, as the reduction of Nv1 levels allows for faster growth and increased reproductive rates.

Read more:

Venom trade-off shapes interspecific interactions, physiology, and reproduction | Science Advances

[strangelittlestories]

The anemone, one day, grown sober on filtered sunlight

looked at the clownfish swimming fin-giddy in its tentacles

“How long have you …been here?”

The clownfish blorped surprise at the question

(but you shouldn’t read too much into that blorping was one of its favourite activities)

“Oh it’s been years. and years and years. I think.”

The tangled nest of pseudopods That was the anemone wriggled at this news, vexed and toxin-pretty

“I eat fish that get close. Usually. I’m a death-wish in seafoam Fluorescent.”

The fish swam a lazy circle Its body a shrug waved horizontal

It didn’t take its eyes off The anemone as it replied

(but again: read not too much Its eyes were seldom long off its host)

“I know Your cells are harpoons Your body a net. A cavern mouth surrounded.

You are the end of me. Where else Would I go?”

(I should sting it, Thought the anemone   but something in the fish Felt sweet In a way it didn’t Want to devour.)

“Besides, the snacks are good” The fish continued globbing up a corpsescrap “and you kill all those who come hunting”

The anemone sat silent in its lair which was its body

It tasted the decay, wine-sweet In the water.

Its skin was swelched in fine algae draped in the little life, growing

Things had been good For years. And years and years. Quietly.

[smorgasvoid]

Project Dato: Syndermates of Dato (V.2)

Syndermates are a clade of animals that on Earth includes rotifers and spiny-headed worms. While typical syndermates do exist, more basal forms descended from a Cambrian stem-group have assumed various macroscopic forms, with many of the Scopalian syndermates being reef-builders alongside diatoms, annelids, bivalves, sponges, and stony coral.

Because these forms were common during Dato's Cambrian, said period is sometimes called the Rotifian period.

Due to the constraints of diffusion at such a large size, many have evolved gills or pocket lungs, though Scopalians lack gills.

Most macroscopic syndermates belong to the clade Macrosyndermata which includes the phylums Labiocoronae and Scopalia. The Triffidia, on the other hand, are believed to be a sister clade to Seisonida+Acanthocephala.

Labiocoronae includes the following classes:

Aromascolecida (spice worms and glue worms), burrowing worms that are usually filter-feeders though the species depicted are active predators. They can be as small as the average earthworm or as large as a saltwater crocodile if not slightly larger. The name spice worm stems from the highly valued substance known as Zaipu or "spice" obtained from the glands of some large species. Unfortunately, those species tend to be very territorial. Glue worms produce a non-Newtonian mucus from their retrocerebral organ which aids in prey capture.

Kartupelida (potato worms and carrot worms) are a class of macrosyndermates who have eversible mouthparts that are used to feed on plankton and detritus. They are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning they all produce both sperm and eggs, though they are not self-fertilizers.

Synocoronida is a class of simplistic macrosyndermates that includes the raspworms and the hexapoderos. The former (top) is a lineage of herbivores that resemble slugs, flatworms, and a few convergent clades exclusive to Dato. The latter are a type of gill-bearing synocoronids that use their mucus as a net to capture small organisms.

Musculopoda is a class of six-limbed macrosyndermates that converged with panarthropods which they were thought to be closely related. The main difference is that musculopods can't molt, instead their outer skin grows with them. The largest musculopods are the size of a medium-sized pig.

Scopalia includes the following classes:

Floroscopalia (anemonots and "true" scopals) is a class of Scopalians similar to corals and anemones. In the case of the former, they are colonial organisms that feed on small animals and sugar provided by algal symbionts. Unlike anthozoans, they cannot reproduce by budding. They make up 35% of reefs on Dato.

Crinoscopalia (lily scopals) includes many stalked and unstalked forms. All Crinoscopalians are suspension feeders that feed on detritus and plankton. Despite their sessile appearance and relation to the sessile Floroscopalia, Crinoscopalians are capable of locomotion, albeit very awkward. They are mostly freshwater.

Calamozoa (reed animals) includes many cosmopolitan clades characterized by their long bristly mouthparts that are adapted to pull in plankton and other small animals. Despite supposedly appearing immobile, they are capable of relocating if needed (tiny legs under that).

Echinoscopalia (echines) contains motile forms resembling sea urchins. The some are predators of molluscs and sponges while others are primarily herbivores, much like their counterparts. Some forms will integrate toxins from their diet into their own bodies. They were originally saltwater animals though ever since true urchins appeared during the Jurassic Wave, most echines became freshwater animals.

Shogosozoa (shoggoths) contains the most unusual forms on Dato, highly motile predators that are similar to octopodes. Due to being sensitive to light, they are found in locations with low amounts of light. Unlike octopodes, they can consume prey whole as their brain does not surround their esophagus. They live in habitats ranging from caves, deep sea floors, murky bodies of freshwater and dark forests.

The last clade we will go over are the Triffidia, an enigmatic subphylum of terrestrial plant-like syndermates that may have appeared during the mid-late Paleozoic. Motile triffids have slow metabolisms and are photoheterotrophs.

Three classes are known, Stygiphyta (sessile tree-like forms endemic to Makai and Jigoku, have a larval stage), Magnolitriffidia (magnoliid-like triffids), and Eutriffidia (derived forms). The most well known eutriffid is the vegetable lamb, a photo-omnivorous animal in the order Pecophyta. The vegetable lamb is an important form of food in some places since it is basically animal and plant, so crop and livestock.

Shoggoths are inspired by this post.

Taxonomy of Syndermata

[surging-eyes-seeing-through]

Hoi! Cool bug fact time! The Nidoran line in Pokemon draws some inspiration from cnidocytes, explosive cells filled with toxins that are found in creatures like jellyfish, corals, anemones, and hydras. It also pulls name inspiration from the world “needle” as well as 「二度」 (read: nido) meaning double, referencing the fact that there’s two separate evolution pathways. The “-ran” part of the name comes from rhino, which considering the rodent-like nature of the Pokemon makes literally zero sense to me. I guess they have horns? Still feels like a stretch. Anywho, ciao!

~🐢

"Okay, I know a little bit about Pokemon. Just a little." (I think Clay played it once or twice, watched the show... I never touched it, though.)

"A lot of those things have kind of obvious inspirations, so it's interesting hearing about some of the more... complicated ones. Like all of that."

[thesleepingdemonofhogwarts]

Horklumps are fascinating, if somewhat irksome, creatures that have baffled magical biologists for centuries. Though at first glance they might be mistaken for harmless fungi, a closer look reveals them to be very much alive—and not exactly welcome in a gardener’s prized patch. Native to the northern regions of Scandinavia, Horklumps have spread across Europe, thriving in damp, shaded environments where their bristly, fleshy bodies can blend into moss and undergrowth.

Physical Characteristics

Horklumps are usually around five inches tall, with a fleshy, pinkish hue. Their bodies are covered in spiny black bristles that serve as both camouflage and a deterrent to some predators. They resemble a cross between a squat mushroom and a sea anemone. Rather than roots, they have a dense network of thin tendrils extending below the surface, which they use to burrow into the soil in search of small insects, worms, and nutrients. This invasive root system makes them highly destructive to garden beds, as they drain the soil of its fertility, leaving it barren and difficult to rehabilitate.

Behavior and Ecology

While Horklumps don’t appear to move at first, they are surprisingly active below the soil. Their tendrils are highly sensitive to vibrations, allowing them to detect insects and other small creatures that they consume. Horklumps propagate rapidly; a single Horklump can produce dozens of offspring in just a few weeks. Once they establish themselves in an area, they spread quickly, with new colonies sprouting wherever conditions are favorable.

Horklumps are especially troublesome to magical gardeners because they attract garden gnomes, who see Horklumps as a delicacy. When Horklumps infest a garden, gnomes are sure to follow, leading to all manner of chaos as the gnomes burrow, steal trinkets, and generally make a nuisance of themselves. This symbiotic relationship has led to entire fields being overrun by both species, much to the frustration of their human neighbors.

Magical Properties and Uses

Though troublesome, Horklumps are not without value. Their bristles contain a mild toxin that has interesting properties when used in potion-making, particularly in potions designed for mild paralysis or numbing effects. Horklump bristles are also used in a few healing salves and ointments, though they require careful processing to neutralize their toxic properties.

Despite their unappealing appearance, Horklumps have attracted attention from magical biologists because of their resilience and adaptability. Some researchers believe that their unique digestive processes could reveal insights into new fertilizers or soil-restoration methods. In controlled environments, their ability to break down organic material and mineralize soil has been noted, although most would balk at letting them loose in an actual garden.

Control and Eradication

Removing Horklumps from an area is no small feat. The most common technique involves a combination of magical and non-magical methods: uprooting, salting the soil, and, in extreme cases, casting spells to deter the growth of magical creatures. However, because of their rapid reproductive cycle, eradicating a colony requires vigilant monitoring over several weeks.

Alternatively, introducing a controlled number of gnomes to a Horklump-infested area can help reduce their numbers, as gnomes consume the fleshy parts of the Horklumps. However, this approach can be risky, as gnomes bring their own set of problems.

[vyragosa]

bloodworms literally have toxins that stop the heart of fishes and the likes but obviously to us it’s just a tiny allergic reaction it’s fuck all, and studies have found that venom evolution is CONVERGENT, anemones and sea snails develop the same and bloodworms too

so you’re telling me that the international biggest snake fan, the biggest VENOM fan in the fucking world didn’t base higgs-amelie on a fucking venomous bloodworm or being linked to one poisoning him as a cyborg OR something related to that

i see you hideo kojima, and i perceive the brain waves.

[blergeatkitty]

The crabs are totally the easier way to go.

CARCINISATION FTW!

And I would fit the crabs with a little harness that runs off a solar plate in n their shells. The harness would need to have a Bluetooth transmitter and some kind of GPS polling system to determine who the “leader” in a particular pack/platoon/unholy army was so that electric “buzzers” embedded throughout the harness would provide a teeny-tiny jolt whenever a change of direction was needed, which would more or less satisfy a nod towards the “robotic” and “telepathic” requirements.

To make them an effective army, one would simply mount little spritzer vials of sea anemone toxin that could be programmed via the harness to spritz on proximity detection of something moving that isn’t part of the telepathic CrabNet. And since crabs are immune to anemone toxin, you could also cost them in it to protect them against being picked up.

I have no thoughts on the eel migration romance novel, other than it should be written via the pen name “Anne Guilliforme” and the title would be “Emigré Moray Amore No More”

A recent cartoon for New Scientist