Alihotsy

Alihotsy
Species information
Alternative names	Hyena tree
Sentience	Non-sentient
Stem	Green
Leaves	Induce hysteria and uncontrollable laughter Green and red in colour
Diet	Owl dung fertiliser
Usage	Potion-making Herbology Alihotsy-flavoured fudge
Status	Extant

"Never eat the leaves of the Alihotsy tree (also known as the Hyena tree). These leaves cause uncontrollable laughter."

— Phyllida Spore, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

Alihotsy (also known as the Hyena tree) was a species of magical tree.

Description

The leaves of the plant could induce hysteria and uncontrollable laughter. The treacle produced by the Glumbumble acted as an antidote to the effects of Alihotsy leaves.

Finely chopped Alihotsy leaves were used as an ingredient for the Laughing Potion. The leaves' mirth-inducing properties could be damaged by stirring the potion too vigorously following its addition to the mixture. They were also the main ingredient in the Alihotsy Draught, and were also used in the Memory Potion.

History

Minister for Magic Wilhelmina Tuft died in office after discovering her allergy to Alihotsy-flavoured fudge.

Alihotsy was grown in the Hogwarts greenhouses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During the 1988–1989 school year, Jacob's sibling and Merula Snyde retrieved some from the greenhouses, along with peppermint for a Memory Potion, despite being refused to do so by Professor Sprout, by managing to fool her in their Animagus form and then taking the plants once she had left.

"Welcome back to Herbology! Today's class will be sure to make you smile. We'll be studying Alihotsy, also known as the Hyena Tree. Alihotsy leaves have the ability to cause uncontrollable laughter, so try your best to keep your giggles contained. Before we dig into the soil, we've got to dig into a lecture on Alihotsy!"

— Professor Sprout to her seventh-years

Jacob's sibling and Professor Sprout observing Alihotsy in Herbology

During the 1990–1991 school year, Professor Sprout taught seventh-year Herbology students about the Alihotsy plant. Later in the year, in preparation for the upcoming N.E.W.T.s, Sprout tasked her seventh-years with caring for an Alihotsy plant outside of the classroom to prove their skills. However, Nymphadora Tonks's Alihotsy was nearly killed when a Red Cap in the Forbidden Forest ate its leaves. She and Jacob's sibling took the plant to Talbott Winger in the Owlery where he deduced the only way to treat it would be with the Herbivicus Charm, in order to grow it back in time for Sprout's inspection. He himself had treated his plant with his special blend of owl dung fertiliser. Jacob's sibling used the charm to quickly regrow it. The plant and the rest later passed Sprout's inspection, leaving Tonks feeling confident.

Etymology

The name of the plant is derived from Alohotsy, one of the sixteen figures of Sikidy, an East African form of Geomancy. As defined by J. K. Rowling, the figure symbolises "lightness of spirit".

Appearances

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)
• Wonderbook: Book of Potions (First appearance)
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy