Mimbulus Mimbletonia

[Loz]

What did everyone think of Neville's new plant? I have some sneaking suspicions we're going to encounter it again. It was, after all, reinforced in our minds by being made the password to Gryffindor tower.

I also made a rather unpleasant connection in my mind between the Mimbulus and the Devil's Snare pot plant given to Dobe, but I can't really figure out why.

[Rien]

Did it ever say what the plant was actually good for? It wasn't Devil's Snare, was it? Eh well, I'm gonna start rereading today, I'll probably answer my own questions... lol

[hermiones mum]

How did Uncle Algie know what the password was going to be to give Neville the plant?

[dumbleedore]

Didn't Neville mention breeding them? Maybe they will come back...

[lupinfan]

I noticed it came up as the Gryffindor password too! So I think the reinforcement by JKR means that it'll come up again in later books - when Neville's grown it a bit bigger! And Stinksap, the stuff it produces, comes up again later too.

I looked up Mimbulus Mimbletonia and all I got was that the "tonia" bit means thunder or thunderous. The "mimb" bit has no latin meaning.

Mmmmm. Maybe it's Greek. I'll go check!

It's GREAT to be back! I had to go chat with some lesser forum which INSISTED I write a paragraph to introduce myself.

Like you all care....

[wolfie]

Originally posted by Loz (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=387543#post387543))
I also made a rather unpleasant connection in my mind between the Mimbulus and the Devil's Snare pot plant given to Dobe, but I can't really figure out why.


I did too! When I read the part about him being killed by a potted plant, I thought for a second that Neville had accidently left his plant behind, and it had killed someone! Boy was I glad that it was devil's snare. Poor Neville - if he had known that he accidently killed an innocent person!

Anyway, Mimbulus Mimbletonia MUST be coming back. Like someone said, the name was kind of drilled into our heads with the new password and all. Neville said that it has all sorts of powers. Hmm...

[emikkime]

Yeh, it definetly seems like a cool plant, and also one that could come up in the future.

[crafty girl]

I think it's coming back, too. Generally, we don't hear them say a password over and over again (it's always a different one), but this one was repeated so often.

[Wingardium Leviosa]

I'm sure there must be some link between the fact that Neville got the plant then it was the Gryffindor password. It's too much of a coincidence. Maybe the fat lady is realted to the longbottoms.

[~BrandyTook~]

I thought it was interesting that it was metioned to have all sorts of powers. And it certainly was drilled into our heads enough. It was mentioned a lot. And we've never heard the password said so many times. Maybe the plant will be back.

[onetruegryffindor]

it really embarrassed harry when cho came in and he was covered in its pus... grose!!

[Loz]

The creepy thing is that I wrote a story with a plant that moves when it is touched and squirts a venom to knock ppl out, a plant called Mimosa - and so when i read the Mimbulus Mimbletonia, a) squirting stinksap, b)cooing whilst Neville stroked it, I was a bit... shellshocked. Considering that the Mimosa is a real plant (but does not squirt venom, and does not have the intelligence my plants do) I'm wondering if we based our plants on the same source? heh.

It's definitely coming back in some way - it would be stupid not to. And that connection with the Devil's Snare is still there somehow, I'm just not sure how?!...

[preludetoadream]

as soon as he showed Harry I thought it was going to be important in OOTP, so I'm sure it will be latter

[Daveydee]

There is a common garden plant known as Mimulus, which has several varieties. It's also known as the Monkey Plant.

Can't think of a connection, just a bit of useless info, that's all.

[Loz]

Thanks Daveydee - useless info is cool.

I was wondering why the plant wasn't used in some way in OotP too... it was so much in the foreground.

[tabby]

I don't see how Nevilles uncle knew it was going to be the password. I do think that was just a coincidence. The fact that Nevilles father thought it was interesting enough to buy and it was interesting enough to be the password suggests it'll be back. No point having it in the book otherwise.

[Crystal]

It's the old theatre thing. If you hang a gun on the wall in scene 1 you have to use it by scene 6!

[hermiones mum]

mimulus...is the remedy for known fears. In other words whenever you are frightened of something or you are anxious about something, and you can say what that something is (spiders or birds), then Mimulus is the remedy to take.

Mimulus is used as a type remedy for people who tend to be nervous, timid and shy generally. Mimulus is the remedy to encourage the quiet courage and strength that lies hidden in such people, so that they can face the everyday trials of life with steadfastness

well who do we reckon will take it Ron for spiders, Harry for the courage or Neville for nervousness

[Loz]

All 3 - great quote hermiones mum.

[hermiones mum]

sorry I missed it a bit, its quite evasive and quickly spreads around a building.

Can you imagine it growing around Hogwarts and the students all eating a bit as Voldemort approaches with his deatheaters

[Inkwolf]

What I liked best about the plant was that it showed me that Neville's family, who have appeared in a pretty bad light in the past, are actually supportive of him. He is good at and interested in Herbology...so they give him a rare plant for a present. My opinion of the Longbottom collective went up.

By the way...I don't remember Trevor being mentioned at all. Was he absent, or does Neville just no longer need to haul him around as a security blanket? Died over the summer? Or did I just miss or forget mentions of him?

[Runes]

Trevor was in the book.. in the train when Neville was showing harry the plant, he made him hold Trevor for a while.

[Loz]

Yep - Runes is right - trevor's role was small - but pivotal ;) :D

Okay - so are we thinking Mimbulus is really Mimulus now? I still like the idea of it being Mimosa as well :grumble: ;)

[inoLIKEmonkeys]

ok they did talk about the mimbulus mimbletonia alot in the book but what they did more was make references about things being simmiler to stink sap
and for some reason i got the feeling that mimbulus mimbletonia was an ingredient in some sort of potion
veritesirum anyone?

[Rosie B.]

I was also waiting for it to be important in OotP. And I'm going to keep it in the back of my mind while making theories for the next books.

[Witflick]

I didn't think much of it until it was made the password to get into Gryffindor common room -- why would it be brought up like that again? I expect it may play a part in the next books, maybe acting as some sort of defense?

[Koki]

His plant has to mean something it was mentioned too many times for it not to be important. And yeah for some reason I made a conntection with the Devil Snare and Nevile's plant as well, I am not sure why but I did. :) I think it was first b/c when Bode go the plant I thought it was the same kind Neville had. But I am sure w will see the plant agian but I realy can't think what it would be ar used for, i don't think we really got much clues as to what the plant was... I dunno.

it was mentined at the end of the book too..on the train ride home.

[Rosie B.]

If you remember, Neville and his love for herbology could have helped Harry in the 4th book. Moody had given Neville "Magical Water Plants of the Metiteranian" so that he would know about gilly-weed.

[Starseyer]

I thought that maybe the password was the same as the name of the plant because someone saw the plant and suggested it. Or maybe Neville's gran suggested the password to Dumbledore so Neville would be able to remember it ;)

[SnowyOwl]

Perhaps Hermione suggested this particular password to the Fat Lady. She does tend to keep a sisterly eye on Neville.

[Emma88]

JKR has a habit of giving hints and including things in later books from previous ones. I also think that it inforces the fact that Neville is good at herbology, which may turn out to be important.

At the end of OotP, on the train, Harry notes how big it had grown over the year. I wonder how much bigger it will get...

[ktqt207]

wow that thing in the quote about the mimulus or w/e the real plat was makes alot of ssense if u appy it. think of all of the ppl who got sprayed w/ the stinksap: harry, neville, luna, and ginny. they lasted the longest in the DoM; ron and hermione where out 1st. so maybe that sinksap had something 2 do w/ it. like it help them face thier fears and all. i also thought it was odd they the name was italized; as if to give it extra emphasis. it was very strange indeed that it was the password as well, especailly since it was the pasword for the entire year. since when do they keep the same password all year?? they changed it atleast 5 or 6 time in the other books. i cerntainly think that neville'splant will come to play later....i dunoo how but i think it will.....unless this is a totally useless red-herring but i'm doubting this option.

[Katie_Bell]

I think it definatly has to be significant if Neville still had it when he went home. that means he'll have it when he comes back the next year.

[AProphet]

I did a little research and I found this

There is a real plant out there called mimulus, this plant can be used as a remedy for known fears, a type os remedy for people who tend to benervous, timid, and generally shy. It is the remedy to encourage the quiet courage and strangth that lies hidden in such people.

I think this plant will help Neville to come out of his shell. And it makes sense, he is good at herbology so that will help him discover the secrets of the plant.;D ;) :) :p

[sindatur]

I think you're on the right path AProphet. I believe Hermione/Ron as Prefects were responsible for the password being the same as the plant's name, and Neville having that one less worry (not having to battle to remember the password) was able to concentrate more and that assisted with the blossoming Neville did in this book. Additionally with the "helping alleviate fear" part of the plant itslef.

Most asuredly it will be back for other reasons, but, I think it's most important function in this book was to raise Neville's self esteem, so he could begin his transformation into the wizard we all know he'll become.

[Kitkat]

I think the plant will be back in later books. Maybe Neville will use the plant to cure his parents??????

[Jerkwater]

This is probably nothing, but in PS/SS, when Hagrid comes into the Hut-on-the-Rock and threatens Vernon, Vernon backs up and says something that sounds like "Mimblewhimble". Again, probably nothing, but I thought it was close enough to be worth mentioning.

[paperflowergirl]

I thought it was interesting to hear where the plant came from. Neville said that his uncle algie got it from Assyria. Now assyria was, as far as I know, a civilization in the middle east. It does no longer exist, as it went out of existence around 600 BC. Today there is no such thing as a country called Assyria, so how come Neville has got a plant that supposedly comes from there.
Perhaps it came from the middle east, or perhaps Uncle Algie just didnt want to tell Neville where it comes from. I find this highly suspicious.
Any thoughts on this, anyone?

[Jaded_Wanderer]

yeah i found this really odd, too, paperflowergirl...wonder what it means....

[hermiones mum]

Could the plant be a piece of old magic? don't think we have time travel that goes back thousands of years.

[Katie_Bell]

It could be old.. but it grew in the course of the semester, so it wouldn't be small enough to carry with him if its that old... this plant makes me wonder.. i hope it gets explained.

[Ms.Sirius]

Originally posted by Kitkat (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=465768#post465768))
I think the plant will be back in later books. Maybe Neville will use the plant to cure his parents??????

Hmm , now there is an interesting thought!! I know there has to be something important about that plant. I'm sure we will hear about it again in the next book. But wouldn't that be neat if Neville could make something out of it to help his parents. He is really good Herbology, so who knows. It would be great to see Neville do something wonderful like that.
:wow:

[phoenixsong]

Mimble seems to substitute for mumble, in other literary uses. Perhaps the plant will render the user only able to mumble? Or to decipher mumbles? (!)

I have to say that the echo between the mimbulus mimbletonia and the devil's snare may be meaningful. I also must admit that ever since I heard about the ALGERNON Rookwood mistake in the UK edition of OotP, I have become much more interested in Uncle Algie. We know he was the one who first "outed" Neville as a wizard in the first place (the rest of his family was prepared to believe he was a squib). Is he, or does he know, the old wizard with the hearing trumpet who was visiting Bode at St. Mungo's, who may have delivered the Devil's Snare?

[Venustas]

Originally posted by Jerkwater (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=465778#post465778))
This is probably nothing, but in PS/SS, when Hagrid comes into the Hut-on-the-Rock and threatens Vernon, Vernon backs up and says something that sounds like "Mimblewhimble". Again, probably nothing, but I thought it was close enough to be worth mentioning.


Yes! In the German version of book 1, many sounds people make, knocking, etc. are changed so that they will sound more "German," However, when Vernon says "Mimblewimble" it isn't translated at all, which means that it's important to know the "word" in it's origional sound, which means that it's probably going to be important.

the plant is mentioned as having defensive mechanisms- Vernon said it when he was probably very afraid- any connection? I'm looking forward to seeing what else is found on this subject!

[Loz]

That's an interesting thought. Altho I do find myself using certain made-up words often. For instance, quite by accident I had one of my characters looking up a "fligglewoggle" in one chapter and then had them wanting to by a "fligglefloggle" in another without even realised I'd almost completely used the same term again.

[paperflowergirl]

I am personally a bit suspicious of Uncle Algie. I mean, first dropping Neville out of a window (if he weren't a wizard, this would probably have killed him), and then giving him a plant that comes from Assyria, which does not exist. I think he might be lying about the origins of the plant. However, when Neville talks about it, it seems that he has read about it in a book somewhere. I really hope that this is not a case similar to that of the devilsnare given to Bode. I feel very sure that we will see it again, as it plays a small role on the train to hogwarts that could easily have been played by any kind of accident, then repeatedly mentioned as the password for way to long a period of time (dont they change on a weekly / biweekly basis?), and also mentioned in the last chapter without any significance to plot, humor, or character development (which in my book makes it a Clue).
The problem is, of course, that JKR is very hard to predict. It has an interesting defense mechanism, but aside from that we don't know what uses it has. Are there any clues that I have missed?

[Puffskein]

Maybe Assyria does still exist and only wizards know...

[phoenixsong]

Um, even though Assyria doesn't exist today, there are Assyrians, some of whom still want a homeland. Interestingly enough, for HP purposes, the ancient Assyrians wrote in cunieform.

[Kerbox]

I agree, the reason the password was the name of the plant is probably because Ron and Hermione heard that Neville knew it well. Harry didnt even wonder why this was, so he probably knew.
I will offcourse not deny that the plant might have some importance later, but for now I accept that it might just be so that Neville wont have to sleep in the corridors this year.

[Loz]

Harry thanked the others and accompanied Ron back to their compartment, where he bought a large pile of cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties. Hermione was reading the Daily Prophet again, Ginny was doing a quiz in The Quibbler and Neville was stroking his Mimbulus mimbletonia, which had grown a great deal over the year and now made odd crooning noises when touched.

I think this last part of the quote is a clue. The mimbulus seems to be a sentient being, it croons when touched... v. interesting.

Plus, I counted... and the Mimbulus is mentioned 5 times, seemingly a small amount, but it's rather conspicuous.

[rayrayjohanna]

Do the prefects set the passwords? Also, the passwords have changed in the past books primarily when there is a perceived threat to the students. Especially in PoA, when the dreaded and feared Sirius Black was expected to invade the dorms, the password changed. In GoF, the staff felt that the students (esp. Harry) could be in danger.

[phoenixsong]

Originally posted by rayrayjohanna (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=476081#post476081))
Do the prefects set the passwords? Also, the passwords have changed in the past books primarily when there is a perceived threat to the students. Especially in PoA, when the dreaded and feared Sirius Black was expected to invade the dorms, the password changed. In GoF, the staff felt that the students (esp. Harry) could be in danger.

There has been danger for all 5 years, with the possible exception of GoF: someone after the PS/SS, a basilisk attacking everyone in CoS, sirius black on the loose in PoA, well, not such danger in GoF, and then LV being back in OotP. The passwords have changed in all the other books, this is the first time it remained, so I agree with whoever above pointed out that it was unusual. But no, we don't know who sets the passwords, but I kind of get the impression that it is the portrait over the hole, because remember how Sir Cadogan kept changing the passwords every few hours?

[lemondrop]

Originally posted by AProphet (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=458747#post458747))
I did a little research and I found this

There is a real plant out there called mimulus, this plant can be used as a remedy for known fears, a type os remedy for people who tend to benervous, timid, and generally shy. It is the remedy to encourage the quiet courage and strangth that lies hidden in such people.

I think this plant will help Neville to come out of his shell. And it makes sense, he is good at herbology so that will help him discover the secrets of the plant.;D ;) :) :p


So is Neville somehow using the plant to overcome his fears. Could that be why he has been doing so well at DADA?

[AProphet]

I think so. It probably already started to have effects on Neville. Like lemondrop said, he's been doing well in the DA, and it probably took a lot of courage for him to go to the dep. of mysteries, I don't think Neville would have gone or do anything like what he did there before he had the plant.

[Light Elven Mage]

Now, this is purely speculation on my part, but when I first heard the name of Neville's new plant, mimbulus mimbletonia, I thought to myself "That sounds like the incantation for a spell!" I just realized whyit sounds like that. It is mock Latin, just like JKR's spells. Now, I would dismiss this immediatly but for one thing: mimbulus mimbletonia is the genus species name of the plant. JKR has never done this before. She has always given generic names, like Devil's Snare, and Mandrakes. So, I have this theory that mimbulus mimbletonia may be the incantation for a spell yet to be made. I realize that I am digging really deeply on this one, and that in all likelihood, Neville was just showing off that he knew the genus and species names, but all the same, I wanted to post this here.

[Fairydust]

i also thought that it sounded like some incantation. maybe Neville is going to discover a spell or create some type of spell that has to do with the plant? nice...

[Light Elven Mage]

That is kind of what I was thinking. It's good to know that other people thought that too... At least now I know that I'm not completely off my rocker...

[Spooky42]

Yeah it does sound like an incantation. Or if not, it's pretty obvious that the plant will come in handy in the following books. Neville's bravery and his Herbology skills are going to become important. All of this was reinforced many times in this book (and the whole Herbology has popped up in the other books as well).

[K.K. Slider]

Maybe if it was a spell it would squirt stinksap from the users wand. ;)

[Hermione]

Mimbulus Mimbletonia did sound sort of like a spell, but I just assumed that it was because it was latin like spells that JKR uses.

[Koki]

It does sound like a spell..but then I wonder woudn't something have happened all the time people have said it, I dunno.
But whether it is a spell or not I am sure that this plant has a biger role in the books and will help someway or another, however I am excited to see what it is.
It would be awesome to see Neville be the one to discover the uses of it, he will probably be important some how and this will probably be it ..this plant what ever it is

[Cat]

I think Neville was just being fond of his plant, speaking of it in its scientific name.

Or maybe it's too rare to have a common name. Or at least a common common name

[Amylou]

Maybe it's an MAJOR ingredient in an upcoming potion. I definitely think we'll be hearing more about this plant later on in the series.

[Taichi]

The password was made after the plant (I assume Neville set the Password, so he could remember it easily)

[Horntail]

Does anyone else think JKR is getting lazy thinking up passwords? The only one we get to hear in the 5th book is Mimbulous Mibletonia. And it has really seemed that since the first book the number of passwords have really been declining.

[phoenixsong]

Does anyone else think JKR is getting lazy thinking up passwords? The only one we get to hear in the 5th book is Mimbulous Mibletonia. And it has really seemed that since the first book the number of passwords have really been declining.
I think you're forgetting Sir Cadogan's tenure as portrait-hole protector, when the passwords were changing several times a day (Scurvy Cur!). Like many posters above, I think the unchanging password was definitely a marker of the importance of mimbulus mimbletonia.

[Capella]

Does anyone else think JKR is getting lazy thinking up passwords? The only one we get to hear in the 5th book is Mimbulous Mibletonia. And it has really seemed that since the first book the number of passwords have really been declining.


This is true. I don't think it's because JKR's lazy though. It just seems that the passwords are rarely any part of the plot. But the fact that she chose to draw attention to Neville's plant by making it as password is rather suspicious and says to me that the mimbulus will be somehow important in future.
The information posted earlier about the mimulus plant helping people with fears was great! If this is what Neville's plant is based on, and if it has the same powers, then perhaps Uncle Algie gave it to Neville in the hopes that it'd help him be a bit more like his father. Neville's family sure seems to push him a lot... Also I'd imagine that Hermione or Ron set the password to give Neville's memory a break.

Anyway, JKR certainly seems to be going somewhere with all this. The crooning noises and the mimbulus' increase in size at the end of OotP makes me wonder how much the plant will have developed when we next see it...

[sindatur]

I agree, it was mentioned far too much not to be important later. I also agree Ron or Hermione set it as the password as a favor to Neville so he wouldn't have a problem remembering the password.

I seriously doubt JKR has gotten lazy and that's why the decrease in Passwords. If JKR wanted to have numerous different Passwords she could use any old word she wanted, no thought required, so no laziness not to do so. Percy was Prefect and Sir Cadogan sat in for the Fat Lady during POA when there were more Passwords. Once Percy left, the amount of Password changing reduced.

[bellatrix669]

Doesn't the portrait make the passwords, though? I doubt that the number of passwords had anything to do with whomever was Prefect; though I could be wrong.

[Mander]

I'm pretty sure Uncle Aggie didn't know. =

[sailormoon]

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[sailormoon]

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[Fleeper]

..Fnerg, bloody internet.. took me 20 minutes or more just to read the comments all of you posted…

When I was reading OotP, I did notice how many times it was mentioned, thankfully others did. Many of you have noticed interesting things that I wished to point out.. but I’ll list them here anyways (sorry that I’m not quoting..I’m not going through the torture of perusing each page to find out who)

1. Uncle Vernon muttering something like ‘mimblewimble’ in book 1, during the Hagid/shack scene. The name of the plant mimbulus mimbletonia reminded me of something I had heard before…I’ll continue comment..

2. No one seems to have mentioned this.. while it’s not JK that created it, I found it interesting.. If any of you bought the COS game (for PC.. not aware if the PS, etc. included this,) there was a spell.. the stuttering spell, to be exact. The incantation for the spell was “MimbleWimble.” The explanation, from the packet of information to play the game, is as followed:

“ ‘Causes your opponent to mess up his or her next spell’ Casting the ‘MimbleWimble’ charm at the right time in a duel can have devastating consequences. If timed properly, it will cause the unfortunate opponent to stutter his or her spell like former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell. Given such an opportunity, Harry could take the upper hand with his next spell cast. Note: Though the opponent may be mumbling ineffectually, they will still be able to move around.”

Someone mentioned stuttering before, I believe, but I’m not completely sure. Anyways, this was what came to me while trying to find the Latin translation for any part of the name

3. Brought up briefly: I was wondering why the plant was never given a common name. It occurred to me that it was rather…iffy on the subject of what, exactly, the plant could do.

4. The plant is from Assyria. Whether or not the place continues to exist in the wizarding world is left to be unsaid. Unless JK goes into the subject, it’ll just be endless fodder of opinions on the matter. I do have a question on this: Was Assyria also known as Abssynia? We know of another plant, the Absynnian Shrivelfig, and when I googled ‘Absynnia’ and “assyria’ separately, they were located in the same place. Possibly these plants are linked.. I’m not sure of the link with the Devil Snare, though. They’re not very alike in looks or whatnot. [See 2nd book (ch 16) and 5th book (Ch 23) for Devil Snare and Book 5 (ch 10) for the M.M.]


5. The plant as a password was no coincidence (“Constant Vigilance”, “There’s no such thing as a coincidence,” etc.) I don’t believe, though, that Hermione and Ron set the password to the plant name. They arrived at the dormitories after Harry, and would have had no chance to change it. I sincerely doubt that any member of Neville’s family suggested the plant name for the password either. Obviously, the password came around somehow, but I also, again, have to wonder why it was the scientific name for the plant…But I do remember (forgive if I made this up) that JK once said all the passwords we hear are important.. now, how important, I have no idea. Of course, this could have merely been someone else saying this.. but, always keep a lookout for the passwords. JK doesn’t get lazy to small details. I doubt she has become lazy…coincidences never happen.

6. The Mimulus Plant does seem to be the jumping off point for the plant JK created. They’re very similar in name and characteristics. When Neville ran up telling Harry that he wouldn’t forget the password, It COULD have been more than what you thought originally. From what I’ve read so far, the Mimulus plant seems to ‘remedy’ (either temporarily or permanently) fears or nervousness, etc. It was a rather short scene with Cho, but Harry didn’t seem to get nervous or flushed around her..right after the stinksap. ‘Course it could be chucked up to something else, but.. [I have not yet read up on Mimosa.. nor Mimulus. The mimulus information came from previous replies.. I may come back and post later on Mimosa and Mimulus]


7. The fact is, that the prefix ‘mim’ doesn’t seem to have any relation to the plant (‘mim,’ used a few different contexts, seem to revolve around the ‘actor, mime, or farce’ area. Of course, it COULD come into play, but I also could not find anything similar to the rest of the name… (u’lul/o translates to “shriek, yell, howl; cry out to” *ulus) ..a bit like its crooning at the end ..i suppose.

There’s something I’m forgetting to cover in this, I’m sure, but I believe this is long enough…I was just overjoyed to learn there was an entire thread devoted to Neville’s plant. I was planning on just posting all my thoughts (I had not heard of the mimulus or mimosa plant yet.. I had only noticed the mimblewimble part and the lack of Latin translation.) oh.. the name most likely is not Greek.. since everything’s scientific name is Latin-based. I doubt the wizarding world changing that, though, alas, they could if they wished. But in the muggle scientific world, it’s Latin.

I’ll be looking into the plants like I mentioned, and looking for possible Latin ties, but I am also planning on researching this bit that I believe most people have overlooked as something ..well, it’s important, but they haven’t looked at it in a different angle.. Don’t want to give it away in case I sound moronic.. or get people’s hopes up, but yeah… Hope this list helped explain some things.. or trigger something in someone’s brain that could lead to a breakthrough.

[phoenixsong]

Nice work, Fleeper. Of all your information, I find that about the Stuttering Spell to be most intriguing. I suggested way above that mimble is an alternate term for mumble, and so maybe the plant causes someone to mumble. But with it so clearly stated in the "approved" merchandise, it seems very likely that Neville's plant will prove very valuable indeed ("A-v-v-v-a-d-d-d-d-a K-k-k-k-e-d-d-d-a-v-v-v-r-a!" just won't cut it).

As for the password, I am pretty certain that the portraits themselves set them, based on the evidence of Sir Cadogan in PoA. I think that the prefects are told the passwords ahead of time, but I don't think they make them up. And I still think Uncle Algie has something to do with it, for good or for ill. I just want to know more about his relationship with the Fat Lady. Does anybody remember if Mrs. Weasley said if the Fat Lady was there in her day? Or if we know how long she has been there?

As for the link between Mimbulus mimbletonia and Devil's Snare, in my mind it only exists through some hypothetical person with expertise in magical plants, and I've really begun to suspect that that person is Uncle Algie.

[Fleeper]

I'm not sure about whether or not Mrs. Weasley has said if the Portrait was there in her time, but even if it were, we can’t be sure the pink lady was there when Uncle Algie was (or if he’s even a Gryffindor). Algie is not Neville’s uncle, but his great uncle. I just noticed that last night while looking at the first train scene with the plant.

I agree that the most interesting aspect is the MimbleWimble spell, but also that Uncle Vernon had said Mimblewimble in the book. The creators could have been having fun, but my probably-by-now annoying quotation from Galadriel Waters..let’s all say it together… there’s no such thing as a coincidence. (except MAYBE..maybe an eency weency little one here…but don’t tell her I said that..I'll deny it to my grave :whistle: ;) )

[phoenixsong]

Good catch on the great-uncle, Fleeper. I'll have to emend my "Uncle Algie" thread accordingly.

[Ecthelion]

Just a few thoughts and speculation here:

I, like others, am fervently hoping that this plant, Mimbulus Mimbletonia, with all it's "amazing qualities" will somehow cure Mr. and Mrs. Longbottem. It would be absolutely fabulous of Neville were to be the one who cured his own parents after successfully killing Bellitrix. (Sorry had to add that in) After all, this seems to be a fairly rare and valuable plant, with a lot of potential. And the fact that nothing really was made of it in this book is heartening since maybe it is being held back for later. I think it would be really neat to see and hear Nevilles parents in a rational form, and truly think that they, more than almost anyone, could really tell Harry and comfort him about his parents. I really hope it comes to reality.

[Elektra]

Here’s what I’ve found regarding the etymology of the (clearly made-up) name mimbulus mimbletonia:

mim: [Scot. and dial.] (imitative of pursing up the mouth, cf. mum) affectedly shy or modest, demure; also, affecting great moderation in eating and drinking (Jamieson)

bulus: [Medieval Latin and Greek] (lump of earth) concentrated mass of substance administered orally or intravenously for therapeutic purposes

tonia: [Latin] degree or state of tonicity, which is the normal firmness or functional readiness in body tissues or organs

So, you could define mimbulus mimbletonia as “a therapeutic substance that, when taken orally, loosens up the lips.” This is interesting for several reasons. First, this definition suggests that Neville’s plant could have some sort of use similar to Veritaserum, a potion which has already played an important role in the books. What’s more important, however, is that on page 23 of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them we learn that certain ingredients of Truth Serums, such as Jobberknoll feathers, are also used in Memory Potions. This, I believe, is why Rowling made mimbulus mimbletonia the password for Gryffindor. She was making the point that this plant would help Neville remember. It has already been theorized, and I happen to believe, that Neville’s forgetfulness is due to a powerful Memory Charm placed on him to protect him from the memory of his parents’ torture by Bellatrix. I believe the young Neville might have witnessed this event, and might even have been tortured himself in order to get his parents to talk, but that Bellatrix was stopped before she could inflict permanent damage on the boy. Still, he had to be protected from the trauma with a Memory Charm, or else perhaps suffer a similar condition as his parents. We know, however, that very powerful memory charms tend to damage the person’s memory permanently, and this is probably what happened to Neville. The mimbulus mimbletonia seems to have the power to help him overcome this. Interestingly, this experience and its consequences is also the root of Neville’s worst fears (remember his reaction to the Cruciatus Curse demonstration in Book 4?), which explains the mimulus connection, as well. The mimblewimble connection is more related to the etymological relationship of the two words, however; they’re linguistic cousins, both having to do with “mumbling”, but beyond that it doesn’t tell us much about the actual use of the plant.

Considering this, I think we can let Uncle Algie off the hook a bit. Clearly from the childhood incident, Uncle Algie has been trying to help Neville remember his powers and come into his own as a wizard. Perhaps Uncle Algie realizes the special power of the plant, and hopes Neville will use it to his advantage in overcoming the Memory Charm and facing down those fears. I think we can judge by the growth of the plant that Neville’s memory is improving, as well as his control of his fear and overall powers as a wizard.

And what about Assyria? As someone already pointed out, the place does still exist, with inhabitants who call themselves “Assyrian,” although it is the classical name for the place. I think Rowling might have used this as an additional clue that the plant is used to restore memory – Assyria is an ancient name, and our memory helps us remember the past.

All in all, I think the mimbulus mimbletonia will indeed come in handy for Neville in future books as he learns its uses, and I can only hope that he will learn to use it to repair his parent’s minds, as well.

Elektra

[hesdead-dealwithit]

Did anyone else see any sexual connotations in the plant? I had just read this article before Book 5 came out and it was crazy, trying to see all sorts of phallic symbols in wands and brooms. But then I read the book and often when the plant came up I saw what the author of that article was talking about. Take the first time we see the plant - it spurts out a sticky substance substance all over Harry (and everyone else) and then Cho comes in and sees Harry covered in it and Harry is really embarrassed. There were lots of other smaller times that I can't find right now but that were like "Neville's mimbulus mimbletonia," putting a lot of emphasis on the possession and when Neville "stroked his mimbulus mimbletonia" which had gotten "a great deal bigger" over the time that Neville matured a lot. When I had first read that article, I thought to myself, "that woman is a sex-crazed crackhead" then I read the book and it just shot out at me. (Another time, unrelated, was when Dud said "Don't point your thing at me" over and over) The reason why I noticed that was probably because I had just read the article and it kinda made me mad so it was really on my mind, but what do you guys think?

[Evilrabbit]

No offence hesdead, but I really think you're making a big deal out of nothing. Excellent ideas, everybody else, I can see that Neville's plant will undoubtedly become very important in books 6/7!

I find it interesting that the 4 people sprayed with Stinksap are also the 4 people who are entranced by the veil, not to mention the 4 people who remain conscious throughout the entire DoM scene. I also find it interesting that among the 4, Ginny is the only one who is not able to walk at the end of the DoM fight because of her sprained ankle, and Ginny is also the only one who shields her face from the Stinksap, so it only went in her hair and not her face. Actually it doesn't actually say whether or not Luna got sprayed in the face, but before Neville pokes the plant, it says "Luna Lovegood's popping eyes appeared over the top of her upside-down magazine again, to watch what Neville was doing." and then it says the stinksap "spattered Luna Lovegood's magazine" so I think we can assume it got in her eyes. I think the stinksap may indeed have magical properties that we are not aware of yet.

[Fleeper]

I wish I had my book on me..jsut to verify whether or not I'm right.. but.. I believe (this is from memory.. last time I read that bit was awhile ago) that luna had pulled the magazine up over her face.. but good observation, otherwise.. I don't really want to go into the veil bit in here. In depth, at least. Since this is ..titled for the plant :D ho hum.

[phoenixsong]

Evilrabbit is right, it could go either way with Luna being sprayed or not: the stinksap does cover her magazine, but she had been watching what Neville was doing over the top of her magazine. Ginny gets "a slimy green hat", Harry "receive a face full", including a mouthful, (though we should note that his glasses prevent his eyes from getting sprayed) and Neville's "face and torso were also drenched" and also had to shake it out of his eyes.

edit: I'm not sure where the idea came from that the squirtees remained intact during the DoM battle, but in fact Ginny gets hit with a stunner in the brain room and passes out, Luna gets blown across a desk and lies immobile on the floor, so really it is only Harry and Neville who remain intact. Perhaps because they both got sprayed in the mouth?

[Loz]

That's an interesting corrolation, Evilrabbit. I never noticed it before.

I think, hes-dead, that you're stretching it a bit with your phallic symbol references, but good work anyway :lol:.

What does anyone else think of the possibility of the mimbulus being a sentient plant? As hes-dead mentioned, Neville strokes the plant towards the end and it 'croons'... ?!

[fruitia pickleweed]

In the early 1900's there was a schoolboy magazine called The Magnet that had stories set in a fictional Grayfriars School. The gardener there was Joseph Mimble. His wife, Jessie Mimble, ran the "tuckshop."
This might be a coincidence, but:
Other Grayfriars names that also are echoed in the HP series include a Grayfriars bully named Bulstrode, a neighboring school to Grayfriars called Rookwood, and an occasional Magnet story author named (or pseudonym'd) Catchpole.
It looks like JKR is paying subtle homage to the Magnet stories in her choice of some names, including Mimbulus mimbletonia. (There are a lot of other great names in the Greyfriars cast of characters -- I think my favorite is Eusebius Twigg, which sounds exactly like something JKR would come up with!)
This comment is based on cursory investigation -- there could be more to find out about Hogwarts-Greyfriars connections. A detailed site about Greyfriars, complete with maps, is at www15.brinkster.com.hiamie/greyfriars/greyfriars.htm. Another site is www.friarsclub.cdr-i.net/index.htm.

[paperflowergirl]

That is interesting, fruitia. I wonder -
Is there a connection of any sort between the names in the two series? More than just Bullstrode? We know JKR takes her names from everywhere, and quite often she borrows concepts along with them (eg. Minerva - goddess of justice - being very just, Sirius - star in canis major - being a dog animagi, Mrs. Norris - a very nosy character from Jane Austens books - nosing around the castle..... )
If we can find a relationship between the names of characters (and places), we should also be able to infer something about the nature of this mysterious plant based on the Mimble couple from Grayfriars. What kind of people are they? What do they do? What do they sell?
Btw: I like the name Grayfriars - it sounds very much like a Rowling name. Besides we have two ghosts that share his name already - the Fat Friar (Hufflepuff) and the Gray Lady (Ravenclaw).

[[Pretty]_[Unicorn]]

Yeah makes sense. JKR puts a lot of hints and in book 5 a lot of loose ends and I think this plant is also one. It was brought up on the way to Hogwarts and then was the password, and also Neville said he wanted to breed them. There are a lot of clues here and usually if JKR hints about something she puts a good amount of info but not to much about it such as this. If it wasn't important she'd probably drop it. I think we'll be seeing some more of hte plant but I can't think of why it would be important. Didn't it say it had good defense system? Maybe thats a hint for what it is capable of doing in dangerous times? It was said it is very rare so maybe it uses its defense and people have hard time capturing it?

[duest]

OK just noticed this, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Look at the names Grayfriars and Gryffindor. They look somewhat similiar. Kind of interesting. Maybe there is more there than it seems. What do you all think?

[rotsiepots]

I find it interesting that the 4 people sprayed with Stinksap are also the 4 people who are entranced by the veil, not to mention the 4 people who remain conscious throughout the entire DoM scene. I also find it interesting that among the 4, Ginny is the only one who is not able to walk at the end of the DoM fight because of her sprained ankle, and Ginny is also the only one who shields her face from the Stinksap, so it only went in her hair and not her face. Actually it doesn't actually say whether or not Luna got sprayed in the face, but before Neville pokes the plant, it says "Luna Lovegood's popping eyes appeared over the top of her upside-down magazine again, to watch what Neville was doing." and then it says the stinksap "spattered Luna Lovegood's magazine" so I think we can assume it got in her eyes. I think the stinksap may indeed have magical properties that we are not aware of yet.

Interestingly enough someone has already thought of this idea. You might want to consider reading Veil & Mimbulus Mimbletonia Connection? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=16890)

Hope this helps. :)

[FawkesBox]

hesdead- could we have the link to that article? I think that we could start a new thread about that (I once wrote a paper in college about the phallic imagery in Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" --it's one of my favorite things to talk about)

Also, are we thinking that maybe Mimbulus Mimbletonia is like a "cure" for "obliviate."

[dorcasderr]

Interesting thread. I would like to comment on the fact that we never hear the common name of the plant. I don't think it is because it doesn't have one. Either it is because Neville is so entranced by the Latin name, and as a budding Herbologist, he is prone to use the scientific term or that the common name is distasteful...Let's face it, the plant produces stinksap.

[fruitia pickleweed]

Thanks for the comments,
Paperflowergirl and duest. In answer to Paperflowergirl's question, Mr. Mimble in the Greyfriars School stories is the school gardener. It would make sense to name a plant after a gardener, right?
In adddition to the "Rookwood" "Bulstrode," and "Catchpole" echoes, I've also found that the leading character in the Greyfriars stories was Harry Wharton, who was an orphan being brought up by an aunt and uncle at the start of the Grayfriars series(!) The Greyfriars stories also feature a fat, bumbling student in Harry's class (Billy Bunter) who once was "one of the best known figures in English fiction" -- though not any more, obviously. Reminds me of Neville.
It's not too easy to find Greyfriars information on the Web, and I made it tougher by misspelling the name of the school and the address for the most complete website mentioned in the first post. Sorry! It's spelled with an "e" and the website is www15.brinkster.com/hiamie/greyfriars/greyfriars.htm. This guy's in New Zealand, by the way!

[phoenixsong]

KUDOS, fruitia pickleweed! Very nice work finding this Greyfriars information. I only wish that I could find a way to read some of this stuff. The first website you linked has complete titles for all the issues that were published, many of which are very intriguing, in light of HP.

[MoonyGirl]

hello! :p
I'm brand new here so don't know if my first few comments will be , like deeply insightful but I just had a thought. I don't have my copy here at the mo but from what I can remember, the mimbulus mimbletonia plant is mentioned RIGHT AFTER someone is talking about what kind of weapon is hidden in the ministry. Is this trying to tell us that the plant will be some kind of weapon in the end? What does everyone think? :whistle:

[Remquo]

The excellent research and thought that has gone into this thread is enough to convince me that the Mimbulus Mimbletonia will be playing a part in later books...

I'd noticed the emphasis on put it, and also the way Neville described it's excellent defense mechanism...a hint, perhaps?

In any case, I agree with many people here that the Mimbulus Mimbletonia is more relevant than it may have first seemed.

[cleansweep11]

I do think the mimbulus mimbletonia will become important. Why else would JKR create such an emphasis on it? The password etc.......

[GryffindorSeeker]

:welcome: MooonyGirl!
This plant's pretty interesting, isn't it? Some people not into HP or anything might think that a thread like this devoted to a plant is pathetic, but really, wh cares about them? Anyway, there is a lot of emphasis on this plant, which is rather interesting. Shame JKR hasn't writen 1000 magical plants and fungi for us, it would be interesting to see if that had any information on them... :D

[DarknessLight]

Did you know that Mimbulus Mimbletonia cures fears! well not mimbulus mimbletonia, but Mimulus.... mimulus is a flower that cures fears and it fits I mean Neville is fearful, but not just that! Mimulus cures, fears such us: Fear of being alone (so that could be harry), Shyness (neville) dark, and some other's that I can't remember right now...hold on I'll get the article!...........
Mimulus is the remedy for fear of known things, shyness and timidity. It is for people who fear accidents, pain, poverty, public speaking, unemployment, etc
hold on that's not entierly it.....
Mimulus (Mimulus Guttatus) is the Bach Flower Remedy for known fears. In other words whenever you are frightened of something or you are anxious about something, and you can say what that something is, then Mimulus is the remedy to take. Mimulus fears are everyday fears - fear of public speaking, of the dark, of aggressive dogs, or of illness or pain.

Phobias such as the fear of spiders or of birds are also Mimulus fears, since the cause of the fear can be named. Where the phobia is very great so that the sight of a spider for example causes sheer terror, then Rock Rose might be given as well as or instead of Mimulus. And where the fear is diffuse and there is general anxiety and apprehension without a specific named cause then Aspen is the remedy to consider.

Mimulus is used as a type remedy for people who tend to be nervous, timid and shy generally. Sometimes people of this type may blush easily or stammer, and they will usually avoid social occasions and any event where they will be in the limelight. Mimulus is the remedy to encourage the quiet courage and strength that lies hidden in such people, so that they can face the everyday trials of life with steadfastness.

Dr. Bach's Description: Fear of worldly things, illness, pain, accidents, poverty, of dark, of being alone, of misfortune. The fears of everyday life. These people quietly and secretly bear their dread, they do not freely speak of it to others.

there's the whole thing!! so what do you think?

[hogwarts_princess]

i don't get anything of what you just said there. where did you get all that information from?

[NashiraErato]

It's possible the name is taken from Mimulus.
I'd say Neville having the plant and being encouraged by his grandmother to develop his strengths is more to do with his strengthening character than the plant having magical properties. But who knows...

I assume that's the question you were asking, I hope I assumed right.

[Loz]

I'm sorry but this is a repeat thread. Since you've taken so much time, I'm going to merge it with the original.

*merge*

[flibbertigibbet]

If Mimbulus Mimbletonia really does cure fears, then the connection between it and Uncle Vernon's 'Mimblewimble' may not be so farfetched. It almost sounds as if Uncle Vernon had the instinct to call on something that cures fears when he was afraid of something. I don't think it's an important connection, mind, but it may be useful :)

After reading this thread, I'm fairly convinced by the 'Mimulus' argument, and I do think that, if nothing else, the plant is a metaphor for Neville maturing. Throughout the year, whether because of the plant or of his own accord, Neville becomes more courageous, more confident, more willing to risk his life, even.

Hmm, I can't seem to come to any conclusion here, but it's something to mull over...

[Jane Granger]

Did you know that Mimbulus Mimbletonia cures fears! well not mimbulus mimbletonia, but Mimulus....

This information is interesting! Thanks.

I'm just thinking, if Mimbulus cures fears, can Mimbulus Mimbletonia
be the special type that cures "fear of fear"? and Lupin commented
that, "what you fear most is the fear itself" after he learned that
Harry's bogart is demantor, right? so maybe this implies that
Mimbulus Mimbletonia will be discovered to have some sort an effect
on demantor/demantor victim? I know there's already Patronus charm,
but since it's very difficult to learn even for adults, i think MM will come
in handy, given that demantors have gone to voldemort's side.

[MonicaG]

I agree with a lot of what's already been said, and I wanted to throw one more noodle in the soup-
If Nevilles plant really does help restore memory, as has been suggested by various people, perhaps it will also prove helpful to Lockhart. I was struck in OoTP by the fact that we see Lockhart again, briefly, while in the hospital wing. I don't think this was a coincidence, and I do think he will be back in some capacity later. If this plant is an igredient in a "memory fixing" potion that could be the reason he steps back into the story. And, it would indebt him to Neville!

I guess that's all

[flibbertigibbet]

Jane Granger, good catch on the boggart/dementor thing! Fear vs. courage is such a prominent theme in the books, and Neville, I think, is the embodiment of that. So wouldn't it just be perfect for him to have a plant that combats fear?


Or there is Vernon as mentioned, he fears wizards and it is funny how he new a wizarding term almost as mentioned by flibbertigibbet, so perhaps Vernon is the late blooming wizard and this is some sort of clue to that.
:rotfl: That would be hilarious, I'd love to read about Vernon learning he's a wizard!

I agree with a lot of what's already been said, and I wanted to throw one more noodle in the soup-
If Nevilles plant really does help restore memory, as has been suggested by various people, perhaps it will also prove helpful to Lockhart. I was struck in OoTP by the fact that we see Lockhart again, briefly, while in the hospital wing. I don't think this was a coincidence, and I do think he will be back in some capacity later. If this plant is an igredient in a "memory fixing" potion that could be the reason he steps back into the story. And, it would indebt him to Neville!

I guess that's all

I do like the idea, but I don't think it's going to happen (except possibly as a side plot :)). I think that mainly because of things JKR has said in interviews:


http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/quickquotes/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc.html
People on the internet want to know if Gilderoy Lockhart is going to come back.
Gilderoy Lockhart, bless him, is currently residing in St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries and his memory is still gone. So at the moment, he’s in no fit state to go anywhere. Which I think serves him right.

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/quickquotes/articles/2001/0301-comicrelief-staff.htm
Which character do you most enjoy writing for?

Good question...

Gilderoy Lockhart was loads of fun, but he was a bit of a one-joke character, and I think I did as much as I could with him. I love writing Hagrid and the Dursleys, too oh, and Fred and George,all of them, now I come to think of it.


Of course, this was before OotP and he showed up there, so you never know if she'll change her mind!

[Firedrake]

Anything that pops up more than once always seems to turn out to be important later. Including the very rare and interesting plant. Perhaps the next DADA teacher will teach something about defensive landscaping. ;-)

[Buckbeak2004]

I don't see how Nevilles uncle knew it was going to be the password. I do think that was just a coincidence. The fact that Nevilles father thought it was interesting enough to buy and it was interesting enough to be the password suggests it'll be back. No point having it in the book otherwise.

Ive heard a rumor that nevilles uncle is wormtail :)

[flibbertigibbet]

Ive heard a rumor that nevilles uncle is wormtail :)
...how many people can one bumbling wizard like Wormtail impersonate?? Is there any reasoning behind this rumour?

Anyway, I don't think that would explain how he knew what the password was going to be, even if he is somehow managing to make his way back to the school to spy on things.

[ErickGama]

I have no idea if the plant will appear again in the books. Maybe the plant might save lives?

[whizbang121]

September 23rd, 2003 11:08 pm
In the early 1900's there was a schoolboy magazine called The Magnet that had stories set in a fictional Grayfriars School. The gardener there was Joseph Mimble. His wife, Jessie Mimble, ran the "tuckshop."
This might be a coincidence, but:
Other Grayfriars names that also are echoed in the HP series include a Grayfriars bully named Bulstrode, a neighboring school to Grayfriars called Rookwood, and an occasional Magnet story author named (or pseudonym'd) Catchpole.
It looks like JKR is paying subtle homage to the Magnet stories in her choice of some names, including Mimbulus mimbletonia. (There are a lot of other great names in the Greyfriars cast of characters -- I think my favorite is Eusebius Twigg, which sounds exactly like something JKR would come up with!)
This comment is based on cursory investigation -- there could be more to find out about Hogwarts-Greyfriars connections. A detailed site about Greyfriars, complete with maps, is at www15.brinkster.com.hiamie/greyfriars/greyfriars.htm. Another site is www.friarsclub.cdr-i.net/index.htm.
Thanks for the comments,
Paperflowergirl and duest. In answer to Paperflowergirl's question, Mr. Mimble in the Greyfriars School stories is the school gardener. It would make sense to name a plant after a gardener, right?
In adddition to the "Rookwood" "Bulstrode," and "Catchpole" echoes, I've also found that the leading character in the Greyfriars stories was Harry Wharton, who was an orphan being brought up by an aunt and uncle at the start of the Grayfriars series(!) The Greyfriars stories also feature a fat, bumbling student in Harry's class (Billy Bunter) who once was "one of the best known figures in English fiction" -- though not any more, obviously. Reminds me of Neville.
It's not too easy to find Greyfriars information on the Web, and I made it tougher by misspelling the name of the school and the address for the most complete website mentioned in the first post. Sorry! It's spelled with an "e" and the website is www15.brinkster.com/hiamie/greyfriars/greyfriars.htm. This guy's in New Zealand, by the way!
Wow. I'm a real latecomer on this thread. But I'm off to do some research.

[red_fairy]

neville said he wanted to breed it. Maybe if Hogwarts is attacked the stink sap can be used as a weapon.

[BananaHannah]

I'm going to go ahead and drag up a thread that's been dead for 6 months because I've found something rather interesting...

I wasn't completely satisfied by the mimulus explanation; why were we told that the plant was from Assyria if the explanation was based only on the name?

We all know that JKR loves to borrow from mythology, so I found some Assyrian myths. I didn't have to look very far--we'd read the Epic of Gilgamesh in my 1st year college English class. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the largest and most significant bit of Chaldean (Chaldean = Summerian, Assyrian, and/or Babylonian) scripture and literature. The only significant mention of vegetation in it is an underwater plant (Uncle Algie/algae gave it to Neville) that has a strong defense mechanism (thorns, in this case, as opposed to stinksap), and is "that which restores his lost youth to a man." JKR described Mimbulus Mimbletonia as sinister... if it does restore lost youth (as well as conquer fears), it sure as hell sounds like something the über-sinister Voldemort would want. Voldemort? Hmmm... coincidentally enough, a snake steals the plant from the protagonist in the Epic of Gilgamesh. That's a few too many coincidences, parallels, and likelyhoods for me to disregard this mythological connection.

[Arwen42]

Wow, there is so much information and research her that I don't even know why I'm bothering writing. Anyways, I think the Mimbulus Mimbletonia will have a bigger part in the future. Besides all the reseach all of you have provided, I just think about something simple. Rowling gave it emphasis while puting that as a password for the Gryffindor's room. Then Neville's character develop a lot. He got stronger in book 5. And since we saw that Neville is important, the plant will be important too.

[asrivathsan]

And it was mentioned more than once. If it just a thing passing by, there would have no emphasis like that

[Klimatax]

"Stinksap" means "Smelly juice" in Dutch. Just to let you know...

[Alphaomeg7]

Wow, there is so much information and research her that I don't even know why I'm bothering writing. Anyways, I think the Mimbulus Mimbletonia will have a bigger part in the future. Besides all the reseach all of you have provided, I just think about something simple. Rowling gave it emphasis while puting that as a password for the Gryffindor's room. Then Neville's character develop a lot. He got stronger in book 5. And since we saw that Neville is important, the plant will be important too.

Sorry I dug this topic up again, but for some reason the Mimbulus Mimbletonia popped up in my head today. Ur explaination was really interesting..I likes!!! When I first heard about the plant I thought it was going to be used to help Neville's parents in some way. And yes I think it's important just like I think that the gum wrappers that Neville mom gives him are important also, but that is another thread. In the beginning I thought the plant was what Voldemort was after just like he was after the stone until I found out it was the prophecy. Nice job!!!