The Voynich Botanical Plants

Folio 16v. Chrysanthemum. This plant was first cultivated in China in the 15th century BC. The flowers were adopted by the 8th century AD Japanese Emperor for his official seal. The blue flower may be a stylized drawing of an Indian dendranthema. The small yellow or white variety of chrysanthemum is used to brew a sweet tea. The petals are used to thicken a snake meat soup. The seeds from pyrethrum, a species of chrysanthemum, provides a useful insecticide against all insects. (1) (C)