Plural of bryony; climbing plants with tuberous roots that belong to the gourd family.
From Greek 'bryonia' meaning 'climbing plant,' derived from 'bryo-' (to grow or swell). Medieval herbalists knew these plants well for their medicinal (though often toxic) properties.
Bryony was a star ingredient in medieval witch doctor kits—the root was carved to look like a human figure and sold as a 'mandrake' to gullible people, yet the plant itself is genuinely toxic and was actually used in legitimate herbal medicine for treating gout and skin conditions.
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