Have you heard of Silphium? Probably not, but the plant was so popular with Greeks and Romans that it was harvested to extinction. That’s a shame, because the Northern African plant purportedly could be used as a spice or medicine, could prevent pregnancy, and could increase the libido. Believed to be a part of the giant fennel family, Silphium was described as having thick roots with black bark, a hollow stalk, and yellow-green leaves that were similar in appearance to celery. It was so popular, it was featured on money.
Does your story need an all-purpose wonder plant? Here’s an historical basis for one. Are there any silphium plants still growing? Could someone have harvested and hoarded seeds? Might we find its DNA in the fossil record?
Forget dinosaurs – what would the world’s corporations do to get their hands on a plant that could be used as a spice, medicine, contraceptive, abortifacient, and libido enhancer? What happens next?
