Edith Sherwood Ph.D. and Erica Sherwood

The Voynich Botanical Plants

Folio 47r Back to Plant List
folio 47r

Folio 47r, Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), is a small, succulent plant native to Europe and Northern Africa. It has rosettes of leaves which grow close to the ground. Houseleek propagates by seed and also by splitting off lateral rosettes, called "hen and chicks." Each plant grows for several years before flowering after which it dies. It is a very old medicinal and witch-plant. The Romans grew it in vases in front of their houses and Charlemagne ordered it to be planted upon the roof of every house to protect the home from fire and lightening.