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These plants, funghi and insect illustrations
are part of my botanical oracle deck

Anethum graveolens | Dill

Botanical Overview of Dill

  • Scientific Name: Anethum graveolens

  • Common Names: Dill, Dill Weed

  • Family: Apiaceae

  • Description: An annual herb with slender stems, feathery, aromatic leaves, and small yellow flowers forming umbels. It can grow up to 60 cm in height.


anethum graveolens botanical illustration

Properties of Dill

  • Chemical Constituents: Essential oils (including carvone, limonene, and dillapiole), flavonoids, coumarins, and tannins.

  • Edibility: Leaves, seeds, and flowers are all edible. Used as a culinary herb to flavor foods, particularly in pickling, salads, and sauces.


Distribution and Habitat of Dill

  • Native Range: Native to Mediterranean and Western Asia.

  • Preferred Habitat: Prefers full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. Commonly grown in herb gardens and can often be found in disturbed areas.


Medicinal Properties and Uses of Dill

  • Traditional Uses: Known for its carminative, antispasmodic, and digestive properties. Traditionally used to soothe digestive complaints, including colic, gas, and indigestion.

  • Modern Applications: Used in teas, tinctures, and essential oils for digestive health. Also known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.


Magical Correspondences and Uses in Magical Practice of Dill

  • Element: Fire

  • Planet: Mercury

  • Magical Properties: Protection, luck, love, and wealth.

  • Uses: Dill is used in protective charms and spells to ward off evil and negativity. It can be placed in the home or carried in a sachet to attract luck and wealth. In love magic, dill is believed to stimulate passion and enhance romantic relationships.


Folklore, Legends, and Mythology of Dill

  • Historical Context: Dill has been used since ancient times, both as a culinary and medicinal herb. The ancient Greeks and Romans regarded dill as a sign of wealth and used it to adorn banquet halls.

  • Folklore: In European folklore, dill was hung over doorways and windows to protect against witches and evil spirits. It was also used in love potions and to ensure a happy marriage.

  • Mythology: Dill was associated with the Greek god of health, Asclepius, and was often used in healing rituals.


Historical Literary Sources

  • Pliny the Elder's "Natural History": References the medicinal and culinary uses of dill in ancient Roman society.

  • Culpeper's "Complete Herbal": Discusses the properties and applications of dill in 17th-century herbal medicine.

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