Du cao (Poisonous plants)

According to tradition, herbal medicine in China originated with the mythical emperor, Shen Nong (the ‘Divine Farmer’). This illustrated Chinese manuscript describes poisonous and medicinal plants. Here is devil’s tongue (Amorphophallus konjac), also known as konjac, voodoo lily or snake palm. Today, devil’s tongue is used in making weight loss supplements and facial massage products. It is a member of the same genus as titan arum, the worst-smelling plant on Earth, which has an odour that resembles rotting flesh.