Poppies are sometimes referred to as “blind eyes,” and all poppies are poisonous, which would explain the “sting.” Knotwoods are bamboo-like weeds with small flowers that often invade other plants’ territory. It may be a poppy seed, knotwood, or wormwood. This ingredient is a source of speculation. Erythronium americanum, commonly called the trout lily, is a small plant with delicate purple or yellow flowers that is beloved by honeybees and other pollinators. This snaky ingredient refers to the dogtooth violet, which isn’t technically a violet. Clumps of purplish flowers can be found at the ends of the stems. This ingredient refers to houndstongue, a highly toxic plant that features long, hairy stalks that can grow up to four feet tall. Holly leaves and berries are often seen during Christmastime. Holly trees and shrubs can be found all over the world and have wing-like leaves on which red berries grow. Mosses, like bats, also tend to be found in dark, sunless areas. Moss is a general name for clumpy plants that grow on and cover trees and rocks (like wool). The two most commonly speculated identities of this ingredient are moss and holly leaves. The froggy connection doesn’t seem like too big of a leap (or a hop). This yellow flower resembles most other buttercups but it has a fat, green, bulbous stem. Most agree this warty foot refers to the bulbous buttercup. Some other speculated identities of this ingredient include a leech ( fenny means “marshy” or “swampy,” and leeches are snakelike swamp-dwellers) or snakeroot, based on the name. It’s possible that this ingredient could be referring to a member of the Arum family, which includes plants with nicknames like jack-in-the-pulpit and Snake’s Meat, which would fit with the idea of a fillet. However, “fillet of a fenny snake” is the first item on the list-and source of much debate. An “eye” is a seed, and mustard seeds are dark yellow, like the eyes of some newts. Herbalists would often reference body parts when describing parts of plants. Surprisingly, most people agree that “eye of newt” refers to a mustard seed. Let’s start with one of the most popular (and memorable) items on the list. Ingredients and their meanings eye of newt

Discover some exceptionally weird words here. The word weird gained popularity in large part due to Macbeth. But what are those ingredients really referring to? The answers may just surprise you! (For the entire passage, which includes all of the ingredients we discuss, see below.) Some of these ingredients, such as “eye of newt” and “toe of frog,” have become staples of witches everywhere. The witches’ admittedly catchy rhyme is listed below (the ingredients have been bolded by us): One scene in the play features three wily women, referred to as the the three weird sisters or the three witches in the play, chanting an ominous rhyme as they add gross and grizzly ingredients into a cauldron.

Spooky! This classic scene of malevolent madams making a most mysterious mixture entered our cultural imagination thanks to William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. But the most important ingredient of all just might be… you! All sorts of nasty things go in the witches’ brew. Double, double, toil and trouble! Witches cackle as their cauldrons bubble.

Wytchwood eye of newt