ololiuhqui (FCbk11f157r)

This iconographic example, featuring the medicinal and hallucinogenic plant called ololiuhqui, is included in this digital collection for the purpose of making comparisons with related hieroglyphs. The term selected for this example comes from the text near the image in the Digital Florentine Codex. There is no gloss, per se. This example shows a broad plant with triangular or heart-shaped green leaves that are hairy. On some of these branches clusters of red berries appear. The nearby Nahuatl text refers to yellow flowers that are not visible here, but they do appear in yet another painting of the plant on folio 157v. The text on 157r also explains that the roots are the only part of the plant that is useful for a medicinal infusion that works as a purgative, to be followed by consuming atolli (atole, a maize gruel). This medicinal use differs from the example of the same plant discussed earlier in Book 11 (f. 129v). Left out is the part about the hallucinogenic qualities of this plant, which can cause dreams and help people obtain knowledge. (Follow the link to the Online Nahuatl Dictionary for more information about ololiuhqui.)