Holly and Yew and Mimbulus, oh my!

[tigerpatronus]

No: HPFGUIDX 85556

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Berit Jakobsen" 
<belijako at o...> wrote:
> <SNIP> For fun, I looked up a 
> little information on these trees at the www.botanical.com .
> 
> Yew: The first thing that leaps at you when you look up the info on 
> the Yew tree, is large angry letters in red: "POISON!" <SNIP> 

> Holly (Holy Tree, Christ's Thorn): <SNIP> repelled poison, and 
defended 
> it from lightning and witchcraft, <SNIP> > Berit

I think "herbology" and mythical botony is indeed important in JKR's 
books. She must have a big book of plants on a shelf behind her. That 
Mimbleplant of Neville's was also important. Although she spelled 
it "Mimbulus," it sounds like the "Mimulus" plant that is used in 
Jungian Flower Essance Therapies (as mythical as witchcraft, 
probably) to instill courage and overcome timidity. It was also the 
folks who got sprayed with Mimbulus-stinksap on the Hogwarts train 
who, in the MoM, were fascinated by the enigmatic Veil (Neville, 
Ginny, Luna, and Harry. Hermione and Ron were up in the prefects' car 
and didn't get doused, and pulled the other four away from the 
undulating Veil.) 

Cut-paste of previous post about Mimbulus here: 

Wild, Wild Western Speculations:

I thought I'd heard of a "Mimbulus" before, so I googled it, and
there's a "Mimulus" which is native to the US. (I'm from Arizona.
It's one of the few pretty flowers without razor-sharp spines. We
have aggressive flora and fauna in the desert.)

What's more, in the Great Basin area of the US, there's a variety of
Mimulus called "Mimulus evanescens." Evans? Is that ever a
coincidence? (Yes. Probably.)

There's a South American version called Mimulus niaiandinus 'Andean
Nymph'. Nymphs? Has Neville snuck a nymph into his bedroom?

Here's an odd one: A collary to Jungian archetypal theory is
the "Bach Flower Essences" approach to therapy. From weird
website: "Archetypal Flower Essences made from plants representing
the archetypes....Taking these remedies reminds the soul of the
original archetypes within..., so that we can regain our original
balanced personality. Archetypal essences in this kit include The
Pilgrim; The Warrior; the Magician; The Trickster; The Heroine
Within; and The Orphan.... They are not prescribed according to a
patient's emotional needs but to his weakest archetypes. If a client
is anxious, for example, a Bach flower therapist might prescribe him
*Mimulus* [emphasis added] to assist him to find access to his inner
courage." 

Neville's got a courage plant! Look at those other Jungian
Archetypes! Eeek!

Another Back Flower Essence website: "Mimulus is used as a type
remedy for people who tend to be nervous, timid and shy generally.
Sometimes people of this type may blush easily or stammer, and they
will usually avoid social occasions and any event where they will be
in the limelight. Mimulus is the remedy to encourage the quiet
courage and strength that lies hidden in such people, so that they
can face the everyday trials of life with steadfastness. Dr Bach's
description: Fear of worldly things, illness, *pain* [emphasis 
added], accidents, poverty, of dark, of being alone, of misfortune. 
The fears of everyday life. These people quietly and secretly bear 
their dread, they do not freely speak of it to others." 

Sounds like our Neville, and sounds like our new and improved Neville!

TK -- Tigerpatronus