Bubotuber

Bubotuber
Species information
Endemic to	Scotland (Hogwarts Forbidden Forest)
Sentience	Non-sentient
Leaves	Green in colour
Distinction(s)	Resembles a large, thick, black slug Covered in shiny protrusions, which when squeezed yield a thick, yellowish-green pus that has an odour akin to that of petrol.
Usage	Bubotuber pus
Status	Extant

Professor Sprout: "Bubotubers. They need squeezing. You will collect the pus—"

Seamus Finnigan: "The what?"

Professor Sprout: "Pus, Finnigan, pus, and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles. Wear your dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted, bubotuber pus."

— Pomona Sprout and Seamus Finnigan in 1994

A bubotuber was a magical plant, the visible part of which resembled a large, thick, black slug.

Description

A Bubotuber plant

This portion of the plant also squirmed of its own volition. The surface of a bubotuber was covered in shiny protrusions, which when squeezed yielded a thick, yellowish-green pus that had an odour akin to that of petrol.

Habitat

It was unknown where Bubotubers originated from, but they could be found in the Forbidden Forest and were kept at the Hogwarts greenhouses.

Use of pus

Bubotuber pus

"An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubotuber pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples."

— Pomona Sprout

Bubotuber pus acted as a treatment for severe acne, but undiluted pus could affect unprotected skin in unintended ways. This suggests that bubotuber pus was a topical treatment, but that the actual salve consisted of the pus either diluted in a solution or mixed with other ingredients. The pus was also used in the brewing of certain potions, such as the Healing Potion, and Fake protective potions.

History

Harry using the Seize and pull charm to pull on a Bubotuber growing in the Forbidden Forest

In 1994, Bubotubers were discussed and handled in Fourth year Herbology classes, with particular attention given to the extraction of Bubotuber pus. They also are described in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. During the 1994–1995 school year, Hermione Granger was sent a letter full of bubotuber pus by an unknown person who evidently believed the slanderous Rita Skeeter article that claimed that Hermione was toying with the affections of both Harry Potter and Viktor Krum.

Etymology

• The name "Bubotuber" seems to be a compound of the words "bubo", the swelling of the lymph nodes seemingly like a large blister that accompanies infections like the bubonic plague, tuberculosis, or syphilis, and "tuber", referring to the fleshy, thickened underground stem of a plant, usually containing stored starch, like a potato. Both seem to be in reference to the appearance of the plant.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite