Pipe-weed: Difference between revisions

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'''Pipe-weed''' (also known as [[Halflings' Leaf]]) is a plant developed by the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]]. The cultivation and exportation of this herb is a key industry in the Shire, especially in the south. Among the [[Dunedain]] it is known as '''''sweet galenas''''', and in [[Gondor]] it grows as a wild herb, appreciated primarily for its fragrant blossoms.
[[Image:John Howe - Hobbit pipe.jpg|thumb|''Hobbit pipe'' by [[John Howe]].]]
'''Pipe-weed''' (also known as Halflings' Leaf or simply Leaf) was a plant developed by the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]]. The cultivation and exportation of this herb was a key industry in the Shire, especially in the south. Among the [[Dúnedain]] it was known as '''''sweet galenas''''',<ref name="healing">{{RK|V8}}</ref> and in [[Gondor]] it grew as a wild herb, appreciated primarily for its fragrant blossoms.


Among the [[Gondorians]] it is known popularly as '''''westmansweed''''', a reference to its origin: it was apparently brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Numenor|Númenóreans]] during the [[Second Age]]. There it was first domesticated by [[Tobold Hornblower]] of [[Longbottom]] in [[Southfarthing]] around [[Shire Calendar|S.R.]] 1070 ([[Third Age|T.A.]] 2670). Despite its foreign origins, the Hobbits (possibly those in [[Bree]]) were the first to use it for smoking.
Among the [[Gondorians]] it was known popularly as '''''westmansweed''''',<ref name="healing"/> a reference to its origin: it was apparently brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Númenor|Númenóreans]] during the [[Second Age]]. There it was first domesticated by [[Tobold Hornblower]] of [[Longbottom]] in [[Southfarthing]] around [[Shire Calendar|S.R.]] 1070 ({{TA|2670}}). Despite its foreign origins, the Hobbits (possibly those in [[Bree]]) were the first to use it for smoking.<ref name="pipeweed">{{FR|Pipeweed}}</ref>


Popular varieties of pipe-weed include Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, and Southern Star.
Popular varieties of pipe-weed included [[Longbottom Leaf]], [[Old Toby]], and [[Southern Star]].<ref name="pipeweed"/>


In the prologue to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien states specifically that "it is a strain of the herb ''nicotiana''", i.e. tobacco.
In the prologue to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien stated specifically that "it is a strain of the herb ''nicotiana''",<ref name="pipeweed"/> i.e. tobacco. Whether the substance is psychoactive remains unclear.


The [[Istar|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits and is often seen blowing smoke-rings. [[Saruman]] initially derides him for this, but at some point he takes up smoking himself. After the destruction of [[Isengard]], pipe-weed is found among its stores, but the Hobbits [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] fail to realize the [[Scouring of the Shire|sinister implications]] of the discovery that Saruman has had commerce with the Shire.
The [[Istar|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits and was often seen blowing smoke-rings.<ref name="pipeweed"/>  [[Saruman]] initially derided him for this, but at some point he took up smoking himself. After the destruction of [[Isengard]], pipe-weed was found among its stores, but the Hobbits [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] failed to realize the [[Scouring of the Shire|sinister implications]] of the discovery that Saruman had had commerce with the Shire.


[[Category:Plants]]
==Etymology==
 
The common Gondorian name of pipe-weed was '''Westmansweed'''.{{fact}} The more noble name was '''''galenas''''' (a [[Gondor Sindarin]] form of of the proper [[Sindarin]] form ''galanes''), meaning "pipeweed" (or "sweet smelling growth"{{fact}}).<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 100</ref>
 
== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Item-Sweet Galenas.jpg|thumb]]
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The smoke from Sweet Galenas takes the form of a sailing ship that floats out from the pipe.
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Pipe-weed| ]]

Revision as of 23:19, 30 July 2011

Hobbit pipe by John Howe.

Pipe-weed (also known as Halflings' Leaf or simply Leaf) was a plant developed by the Hobbits of the Shire. The cultivation and exportation of this herb was a key industry in the Shire, especially in the south. Among the Dúnedain it was known as sweet galenas,[1] and in Gondor it grew as a wild herb, appreciated primarily for its fragrant blossoms.

Among the Gondorians it was known popularly as westmansweed,[1] a reference to its origin: it was apparently brought to Middle-earth by Númenóreans during the Second Age. There it was first domesticated by Tobold Hornblower of Longbottom in Southfarthing around S.R. 1070 (T.A. 2670). Despite its foreign origins, the Hobbits (possibly those in Bree) were the first to use it for smoking.[2]

Popular varieties of pipe-weed included Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, and Southern Star.[2]

In the prologue to The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien stated specifically that "it is a strain of the herb nicotiana",[2] i.e. tobacco. Whether the substance is psychoactive remains unclear.

The Wizard Gandalf learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits and was often seen blowing smoke-rings.[2] Saruman initially derided him for this, but at some point he took up smoking himself. After the destruction of Isengard, pipe-weed was found among its stores, but the Hobbits Merry and Pippin failed to realize the sinister implications of the discovery that Saruman had had commerce with the Shire.

Etymology

The common Gondorian name of pipe-weed was Westmansweed.[source?] The more noble name was galenas (a Gondor Sindarin form of of the proper Sindarin form galanes), meaning "pipeweed" (or "sweet smelling growth"[source?]).[3]

Portrayal in Adaptations

Item-Sweet Galenas.jpg

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The smoke from Sweet Galenas takes the form of a sailing ship that floats out from the pipe.

References