Herbs and Plants

## Letharia Vulpina (plant)

**Letharia vulpina**, also known as "wolf lichen," is a type of lichen (which itself is a type of fungus) that grows in the bark of living and dead conifer trees throughout Europe, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rocky Mountain region.

There is a very rare and powerful strain of letharia vulpina that was unique due to the fact that it was grown from the blood of a slain Nogitsune; specifically, it grew from where the blood of a Kumicho who was possessed by an unknown Nogitsune had spilled onto a cement fountain in Ikeda's garden in Japan. Lichen itself has traditionally been used to poison canine species such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes, and the specific strain featured in the series has the ability to weaken and or suppress the powers of canine supernatural shapeshifters such as Werewolves, Werecoyotes, and Kitsune as well.

It is unknown how the plant would affect other shapeshifting species, such as Kanimas, Löwenmenschen, or Werejaguars; the Kanima is a reptilian species, while the Werejaguar is a feline species, and the Löwenmensch is a canine/feline hybrid, but all of the species have relationships with the most common shapeshifting species— the Werewolf. Additionally, in the real world, vulpinic acid, the yellow dye that poisons these animals, is toxic to all mammals, suggesting that, while it may be more effective on canines due to the name (vulpina is Latin for "fox," and it's known as wolf lichen), these other species could be weakened by it as well.

The plant can be harvested in Japan and weaponized to temporarily suppress the control a powerful Void Kitsune known as the Nogitsune had over a body that it is possessing. The lichen not only gives the person control over their body once again, but it also nullified all of its powers, including its ability to heal at an accelerated pace, causing them to develop a Lichtenberg figure on their back from being electrocuted by a foxfire in Galvanize. The effects of the poison last for two to three days, but the Nogitsune's recovery from the plant will be accelerated if the person is given haloperidol, an anti-psychotic that causes them to fall asleep for several hours, making them more vulnerable to the Nogitsune's weakened influence and giving the Dark Kitsune the opportunity to regain control earlier than expected.

## Mistletoe

**Mistletoe** is an herbal plant whose appearance varies based on the species; in North America, where the series takes place, the most common species of Mistletoe has a woody stem with pairs of broad smooth-edged leaves and white berries. Mistletoe is regarded as a semi-parasitic plant, as it attaches to and embeds itself within the branches of trees or shrubs so that it can use its host's structure to absorb water and nutrients from it. Regardless of the variety, Mistletoe is a plant that is poisonous to most lifeforms on Earth, which includes Humans, mundane canine animals (such as dogs, coyotes, and foxes), as well as supernatural canine shapeshifters such as Werewolves. It can even be used against Humans with supernatural powers such as Banshees and Druids to achieve certain effects.

### Norse Myth

The reason why Druids use mistletoe was due to a Norse myth about the sacred plant. In this myth, the god of light and life, Baldr, the son of Odin, was so beloved by the other gods, including his own mother, Frigg, that Frigg took an oath from every living and non-living thing to never harm Baldr, such as fire, water, metal, stone, etc. At a gathering, later on, they tested these oaths by hurling the aforementioned substances at Baldr, none of which did him any harm whatsoever.

However, the god of mischief, Loki, did not share the other gods' love for Baldr, and upon learning that Frigg had forgotten to ask mistletoe, which Jennifer described as a small, harmless, and overlooked plant, to swear not to harm Baldr. As a result, Loki was able to fashion a dart out of the plant's woody stem, which he then threw at Baldr, killing him. Frigg was so distraught by the loss of her beloved son that she vowed that mistletoe would never again be used as a weapon and that she would plant a kiss on anyone who passed under it.

This is the reason why many cultures now hang mistletoe on their doorways during the winter holidays so that mistletoe would never be overlooked again.

## Red Oak Tree

The **Red Oak Tree** (Quercus Rubra) is a large tree standing on the estate of the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted. Created by Hope, Lizzie, and Josie, it is unknowingly one of Nature's loopholes that finds balance with the birth of the tribrid, Hope Mikaelson, and its wood is seemingly the only thing that can kill her.

### Creation

The Red Oak tree was created in We All Knew This Day Was Coming. Hope decided to transition and become a fully activated tribrid. Since witches lose their abilities to practice magic when they complete their transition, not being able to cast another spell is something she'd miss, particularly with Lizzie and Josie. To celebrate her last day alive, Lizzie and Josie prepared a spell for the three of them to cast. In the garden of the Salvatore School, they join hands in a circle of branches and other herbs and as they cast the spell, the nearby Cherry trees begin to blossom. Beneath them, the sapling sprouts. Lizzie and Josie explain to Hope that it's a promise of new life and a life full of promise.

## Vervain

Vervain is a popular herb that is a vampire's most well-known weakness. If a vampire makes physical contact with vervain in any form, it will burn them. If a vampire ingests vervain, the vampire's throat and digestive tract will be burned and they will become feverish and extremely weak. If a human ingests or holds vervain somewhere in or on the body (e,g, holding it in a hand or pocket, wearing it in jewelry), the human is protected from vampire compulsion.

### History

During the Middle Ages, the family that would eventually go on to become the Original Family of vampires, who lived in Europe, was hit by a devastating plague. The plague was believed to have caused the death of the family's firstborn daughter, Freya, though she was taken by Esther's sister, Dahlia, as payment for a fertility spell for Esther to have more children. To escape the plague, the family, along with several friends and neighbors, moved to the New World (what would eventually become known as Mystic Falls) to start a new life in the place where they had heard the people were healthy, strong, and gifted with speed and strength; they were werewolves. The family enjoyed years of tranquility and peace until the youngest child, Henrik, was mortally wounded by a werewolf when he and Niklaus snuck out to go see them transform under a full moon.

Distraught and desperate to protect their family from any more deaths, Esther and Mikael begged Esther's close friend and mentor, a witch named Ayana, to use her magic to turn her family into vampires, using a modified version of the Immortality Spell. Ayana refused, reminding Esther that their duty as witches was to uphold the balance of Nature and warning her that their plans would result in a plague upon the Earth, which would result in the Spirits turning against her. However, she and Mikael were so determined to protect their children that Esther performed the spell without Ayana's assistance. Mikael fed his children wine laced with the blood of the doppelgänger Tatia before he killed them by stabbing them in the heart with his sword. When they awoke in transition, he forced them to feed on the human blood to complete the ritual. According to Rebekah, the benefits were indescribable, but casting the spell was a "betrayal" against Nature itself, and, as Ayana had warned, Nature defended itself against the undead in several ways: preventing them from entering places owned by humans without invitation; making them vulnerable to sunlight; making human blood their utmost desire; weakening them against both the wood from the great white oak tree, as well as the vervain flowers that grew at the tree's base.

### Effects

Vervain is used to stop vampires from compelling humans. Its negative effects on vampires are a result of Nature's attempt to create a weakness for every strength that a vampire gained after being turned. Humans who ingest vervain also have the added benefit of making their blood unappealing to vampires as a result of the weakness and burns it causes; however, most vampires are unable to tell if a human has been ingesting vervain unless they are somehow able to smell it on them, so it does not always ensure that a human is completely safe from vampire attacks. Another use for vervain is for it to be used as a weapon against vampires that can weaken and/or wound them enough to be easily captured or killed.

When ingested, vervain causes a vampire to become severely weak and feverish, often to the point of unconsciousness. If a vampire's skin is exposed to vervain, it results in burns, although it is less severe if the vampire has a tolerance to it.

## White Oak Tree

The White Oak Tree (Quercus alba) is one of Nature's eternal objects and a powerful ingredient that can be used in witchcraft. Its wood is the only thing that can kill an Original vampire. It predates the creation of vampires and is the source of their immortality. The tree itself seems to be extinct and all known stakes fashioned from its wood have been destroyed.

### History

Esther called upon the white oak tree in a spell to make her family immortal. As a consequence of the spell, the wood from the white oak tree could kill the Originals. Thus they burned it but Mikael managed to carve a stake from the tree before its destruction.

Three hundred years after the Originals left the New World, the natives planted a new tree and around 1912, the tree was cut down by the Salvatore family so that its wood could be used to build Wickery Bridge.

*"The wood from one tree and one tree alone, an ancient white oak would bring death to an Original Vampire. When the tree burnt, all hope was thought lost. But the ash from the tree was saved and Witches forged a dagger which the ash could be bonded. This alchemic bond provides the necessary poison. It must be brandished by Humans alone for it would bring death to all Demons who wield it. As long as the dagger stays in place, the Original for all intents and purposes is dead."*

## Wolfsbane

Wolfsbane, also known as aconite or monkshood, is an extremely toxic herb for Werewolves, Werecoyotes, and presumably Werejaguars. The effects of contact with wolfsbane can vary depending on the dosage, the species, and the method of ingestion. Most wolfsbane will kill a Werewolf if it reaches their heart, though it can be cleared by ingesting the ashes of the exact same strain that poisoned them, or by literally burning out a wound that has been made by a wolfsbane-laced weapon if the correct type of wolfsbane is unavailable. It was first introduced in Season 1 and played an important role in every season of the series. In the real world, when handled or consumed in large doses, wolfsbane can be very toxic to humans.

### Species

There have been multiple species of wolfsbane introduced in the series, some of which have a specific name (such as Aconit Napel Bleu Nordique which translates to Nordic Blue Monkshood) and some of which are identified solely by its color.

The blue and purple varieties of wolfsbane are most commonly seen within the show. Yellow wolfsbane, also known as Aconitum anthora is far less common, as it was described as being very rare and very expensive. The Dread Doctors were also shown to use a modified black liquid said to be wolfsbane which only weakens the werecreature for as long as they are given it intravenously, and then it wears off with no after-effects, essentially being used as a sedative.

### Effects

So far, all species of wolfsbane introduced have worked as a poison in one way or another, though whether its effects were temporary or long-lasting depended on how it was administered and the specific type and dosage.

### Cure

The most common treatment for curing wolfsbane poisoning is burning it out with fire or by using the ash of the plant. However, this is not always the case such as for the yellow wolfsbane where you need to slice the person's chest open to cure them of the wolfsbane, and once cut open, yellow mist came flowing out the chest.