Lore Podcast Episode 280: "Flower Power" Summary

Release Date: May 19, 2025
Host: Aaron Mahnke

Introduction

In "Flower Power," Aaron Mahnke delves into the dark and mysterious world of plants and flowers, exploring their roles in history, folklore, and the supernatural. From sinister legends to enchanting tales, this episode uncovers how flora has been both revered and feared across cultures and centuries.

The Sinister Origins of Tobacco and Potatoes

The episode begins with an ancient Russian Old Believer legend recounting the tragic tale of a princess whose "less than appropriate relationship with a dog" led to both her and the dog's execution. "Plants began to grow from their graves," narrates the episode (01:14), introducing the world's first tobacco plant from the princess's grave and the potato from the dog's.

Early 17th-century Europeans viewed potatoes with suspicion, believing they could induce lustful thoughts, contain deadly poisons, and even cause leprosy. However, Frenchman Antoine Augustin Parmentier changed this perception. During his time as a prisoner of war in Prussia, Parmentier endured a diet heavy in potatoes but emerged determined to prove their worth. "He hosted lavish potato-themed dinner parties," Mahnke explains (02:08), which successfully transformed French culinary habits. Today, Parmentier's legacy is honored in Paris with a metro stop and a statue where enthusiasts leave potatoes at his grave (02:56).

The Victorian Language of Flowers

Transitioning from the macabre to the romantic, Mahnke explores the Victorian "language of flowers," a system where different blossoms conveyed specific emotions and messages. "Through sending and receiving flowers, sweethearts could have entire wordless conversations," Mahnke states (04:08). Examples include:

• Bluebells: Kindness
• Tulips: Passion
• Roses: Devotion
• Rosemary: Remembrance
• Yellow Carnations: Disdain
• Rhododendron: Danger, flee

Flowers also played a role in funerary practices. For instance, sheaves of wheat indicated a long life, while unopened buds symbolized the untimely death of children (05:01).

Magical and Poisonous Plants in Folklore

Mahnke delves into plants with deep-rooted supernatural associations:

• Vervain (Enchanter's Herb): Sacred in various cultures, believed to protect against lightning and vampires. It also has legitimate medicinal properties, such as reducing inflammation and anxiety (05:34).

• Datura (Jimsonweed): Known for its hallucinogenic properties, used in rituals by the Aztecs and Chumash people. "Its ability to cause powerful hallucinations has been deemed sacred visions," Mahnke notes (07:07).

• Mugwort (Dreamwort): Used in Middle Ages for protection against witchcraft and as an ingredient in "flying ointments." It induces vivid dreams and wild hallucinations (08:00).

The Story of Anna Roth: The Flower Medium

One of the standout narratives in this episode is the life of Anna Roth, a renowned flower medium in late 19th-century Germany.

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Born in 1850 in Saxony, Germany, Anna faced immense personal tragedy, losing her parents and sisters to cholera as a teenager (17:20). These losses intensified her pre-existing visions of spirits, leading her to embrace her abilities fully. In 1890, after the tragic death of her daughter's fiancé, Anna's seances began to incorporate flowers as messages from the beyond.

“Participants witnessed masses of fresh, dewy flowers materializing before their eyes,” recounts an attendee (20:44). Anna was an aport medium, capable of making objects appear from thin air, most notably flowers. Her unique shows offered a semblance of connection to lost loved ones, providing comfort in an increasingly industrial and impersonal Germany (26:28).

The Downfall

Despite her popularity, skepticism lingered. In March 1902, the Berlin police infiltrated one of Anna's seances. “They found 157 flowers concealed under her clothing,” Mahnke reveals (22:37), leading to her arrest for fraud. Her trial became a media sensation, featuring testimonies from both believers and skeptics, including famed magician Harry Houdini (23:51).

Ultimately, Anna was convicted and imprisoned. Tragically, during her incarceration, both her husband and daughter passed away. Released early in December 1904, Anna died shortly after, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with both fraud and the genuine human desire for connection beyond death (24:35).

Shakespeare's Botanical Ingredients

Mahnke concludes with an exploration of Shakespeare's famous witches' brew from Macbeth. He breaks down the seemingly creepy ingredients, revealing they were actually references to ordinary plants:

• Eye of Newt: Mustard seed
• Toe of Frog: A type of buttercup
• Wool of Bat: Holly leaves or moss
• Tongue of Dog: Houndstongue (a toxic plant)
• Adder's Fork: Adder's Tongue Fern or Dogtooth Violet
• Lizard's Leg: Ivy
• Howlet's Wing: Garlic or ginger

“Turn it on its head,” Mahnke suggests, showing how ordinary flora were transformed into elements of dark lore (28:08).

Conclusion

"Flower Power" intricately weaves tales of how plants have been both symbols of beauty and tools of darkness. From historical misconceptions and heroic efforts to redeem certain plants to the blend of magic and deceit embodied by figures like Anna Roth, the episode paints a comprehensive picture of humanity's complex relationship with the botanical world. Mahnke eloquently encapsulates this duality, reminding listeners that beneath the surface lies a garden of stories waiting to be unearthed.

“In a world of cold industry, Anna Roth gave her audience something they desperately needed—the magic of the natural world,” Mahnke concludes (26:31).

Notable Quotes

• "Through sending and receiving flowers, sweethearts could have entire wordless conversations." — Aaron Mahnke (04:15)
• "They discovered remnants of digitoxin and digoxin, the chemicals produced by a poisonous plant called Dead Man's Bells, or foxglove." — Aaron Mahnke (11:20)
• "For Anna Roth, that was all she needed to hear. From that moment on, she began to conduct public seances." — Aaron Mahnke (18:30)
• "Most people associate flowers with happy moments in life... Which is why when they're used for evil, it feels all the more sinister." — Aaron Mahnke (27:53)
• "In a world of cold industry, Anna Roth gave her audience something they desperately needed—the magic of the natural world." — Aaron Mahnke (26:31)

This episode of "Lore" masterfully intertwines botanical history with eerie folklore, offering listeners a captivating journey through the shadowy underbelly of the floral world.