Allium moly L., Alliaceae. Golden garlic. Bulbous herb. Distribution: Southwest Europe and Northwest Africa. This is not the 'moly' of Homer's Odyssey Book 10 lines 302-6 which describes Mercury giving Ulysses 'Moly', the antidote to protect himself against Circe's poison ''... The root was black, while the flower was as white as milk

the gods call it Moly, and mortal men cannot uproot it, but the gods can do whatever they like." ie wrong colour, Allium moly has yellow flowers, and - according to Parkinson (1629) has white roots. The 'Moly' of Dioscorides is 'four cubits' (two metres) high, with white flowers (Beck, 2005). Allium moly might grow to 50cm. It is poisonous. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.