A Journey Around the World in 20 Plants: Europe, Africa and Asia

This shrub is found in countries all around the western Mediterranean. The plant's common name in Spanish is emborrachacabras, meaning "makes goats drunk." Goats, which are the only animals that graze in this region, become intoxicated when they eat this plant and can be seen wobbling when they walk.

In Aragon (Spain), this plant is called arto. In England, people say that you have to wait until the hawthorn blooms before taking off your winter clothes. The Spanish have a similar saying that goes, “hasta el cuarenta de mayo, no te quites el sayo” (don't put your coat away until the 40th of May).

Hopping from Europe to Africa, and journeying along the savannas of northeast Africa and Zimbabwe, leads us to the bushveld asparagus. A plant with medicinal uses, it has been shown to have a diuretic effect and is also recommended for treating urinary infections.

Staying in South Africa and traveling east, this tree is commonly found growing between grasslands and on the edge of forests. A tea can be made from its leaves and used to treat dysentery.

Originating from western China and Tibet, this plant is named after Helena Willmott (1858–1934), a British horticulturist who cultivated over 100,000 species of plant and sponsored many important botanical expeditions.

Originating from China, this ornamental plant was very popular between World Wars I and II, though it is not known why. Its name pays homage to Richard Kolkwitz (1873–1956), a German botanist who taught at the Free University of Berlin.