3d ago

TIL about Silphium, aka laser, a plant that was used as a panacea in antiquity and the first species in recorded history to go extinct

The plant's exact identity is unknown to this day, since it went extinct in Roman times. It was a major cash crop of Cyrene, Libya, and even depicted on coins. It was used as seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, contraceptive and abortifacient. The last specimen was supposedly given to Emperor Nero.

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contraceptive and abortifacient.
The main reason it went extinct...
And what it was actually effective at. But the best way to convince a male dominated society that was important to make accessible was to convince them it made women horny.
When it just freed them of potentially serious consequences, like, a shit ton of women died a n childbirth until very recently. A one night stand could leave a women dead or shunned from her family with no source of income and a baby.
Reliable birth control would have been an absolute game changer.
- It was used for way more than Contraceptive. It was an ingredient in food and to heal all sorts of illnesses. Culturally it was very significant.
  Pliny the wise documented it pretty well if you are curious
- The main reason it went extinct...
  You'll have to elaborate on that
  
  They used it all...
  To the point it went extinct.
  It wasn't something people grew it was a wild plant. Started out common and all over the place, but Everytime someone saw it, they picked it
  
  It was also very valuable. The Roman government had restrictions on its harvest but there was a huge black market. The wealthy put fences around where it was growing but the fences were torn down by the public. It can't be grown artificially so the only way get it is though finding it in the wild. The public ultimately harvested it until there was nothing left.

18 comments