Edith Sherwood Ph.D. and Erica Sherwood

The Voynich Botanical Plants

Folio 48v Back to Plant List
folio 48v

Folio 48v, Rue or Herb of Grace (Ruta graveolens), is a hardy evergreen shrub, native to southern Europe, with a reputation as a medicinal herbal and for protection against plagues, pestilence and witchcraft. The woody stem has alternate, bluish-green pinnate leaves and terminates with bunches of small, greenish-yellow flowers. Apart from being the herb for remembrance, rue has been used to treat stomach, intestinal and menstral cramps and to induce abortions. Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci ate the leaves of this plant to improve their eyesight and creativity.