Supernatural Plants

[thesummerqueen]

Vertical Gardens With Supernatural Healing Powers

We’ve discussed before the benefits of plants and vertical gardens–how they can not only beautify indoor and outdoor spaces, but can help decrease energy usage by providing insulation, improve indoor air quality, even provide a place to grow food when floor space is scarse. But ward off evil spirits? The designing Campana Brothers think so.

For the facade of Sao Paulo design shop, Firma Casa, the brothers designed a green wall with Sansevieria trifasciata (commonly known as snake plant), a nod to Brazilian popular culture and a plant used in African-Brazilian religious rituals for its supernatural protective and healing powers.

I'm not entirely sure this belongs in "skepticism" per se, but I don't think it belongs just in the botany section.

I have spent the morning dealing with a nasty sinus headache and searching out urban gardening solutions to the fact that I'll be losing a yard and living in a condo for the next couple of years. A condo with a south-west-facing, but very small balcony. I like this blog a lot and it offers many interesting ideas and articles. Why on earth should it rely on such backhanded ways of gaining attention?

You can see from the pictures that the design was interesting enough in itself that it shouldn't have required a nod to superstition.

Plants have no supernatural powers. I think they are one of the last areas where people are able to perpetuate the "god of the gaps" principle. Their lives are utterly and completely alien to lay people, especially to those who, like me, received only a 3 day education in botany during school. Thus, all sorts of bullshit belief is maintained.

There are no evil spirits, and if there were plants wouldn't do dick all against them. Plants clean out certain toxins from the air, but they don't balance your chakras, promote feng shui or respond to ley lines. Fucking around with them as medicines without consulting a medical professional who is up-to-date on the latest peer-reviewed findings can lead to dangerous results, whether from poisoning or from taking plant-based meds and NOT FDA approved drugs.

And for the record, while I like the vertical garden design, the snake plant is an ugly motherfucker.

[Something completely different]

Just like Princess Robot Bubblegum said in the GTA 4 manga parody.


"My greatest power is MERCHANDISING!"

[Cinjin]

And for the record, while I like the vertical garden design, the snake plant is an ugly motherfucker.

I rather like the snake plant. I see myself in it's unbroken simplicity. It's one tough son of a bitch to kill, often marred by the world around it, but always a bit of delicate pattern to be found in it's smooth broad stalks. Of course, I've often found beauty in things most people ignore.

[Rayaan]

Well, the belief in supernatural plants certainly has some ancient roots (pun intended).

[thesummerqueen]

Just like Princess Robot Bubblegum said in the GTA 4 manga parody.


"My greatest power is MERCHANDISING!"

Pretty sure Yogurt in Spaceballs said that too.



Snake plant just isn't my thing, Cin. I've been researching plants for the condo for 2 weeks now - there are some dubiously "pretty" plants on there, but the snake plant ain't.

[The Grand Nudger]

Why not just go tried and true like english ivy? Ivy climbers with lavender hedgerows, done.

[thesummerqueen]

I'll shoot you the firm and tentative lists depending on what's available locally or on the net and how much space we have. There will be pictures later, of course.

[KichigaiNeko]

I only know this plant as "Mother-in-law's Tongue"

Do we have a botanical name?

---

Yes we do!

S. trifasciata laurentii

http://houseplants.about.com/od/foliagep...ePlant.htm

Apparently close relative of "Snake Plant" suitable for low light conditions

now you know

[Whateverist]

There is a small leafed ivy cultivar often sold as a house plant which I've admired called 'Gold Heart'. Like any ivy it could probably get out of hand but with an able pair of snippers you could probably keep it in check.



Hedera helix 'Gold Heart' by Jim's Plants, on Flickr

[thesummerqueen]

oooo- that's lovely! Thanks!