Lettice Somnolens

Lettice Somnolens was a witch known posthumously within the wizarding world for her unfortunate and fatal mistake in the field of Herbology. Her story serves as a cautionary tale, memorialized on a plaque in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, which warns practitioners of the dangers of misidentifying magical plants.

Very little is known about the life of Lettice Somnolens. The only recorded detail of her history pertains to her death. She was killed when she consumed a poisoned leek, which she had mistakenly identified as a Mandrake. In her memory, a charitable foundation was established, and a brass memorial plaque was placed on a wall in St. Mungo's. The plaque is located in the “'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn Ward: Serious Bites” on the first floor of the hospital. It was here that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger saw the plaque while visiting Arthur Weasley after he was attacked by Nagini. The inscription reads: A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION In Memory of LETTICE SOMNOLENS, who was killed by a poisoned leek which she believed to be a Mandrake. Let this be a lesson to all.

Her physical appearance and personality are unknown, as she is only mentioned after her death.

Lettice Somnolens's death suggests she was a practitioner of, or at least had a significant interest in, Herbology. However, her fatal inability to distinguish a common poisoned leek from a highly distinctive magical plant like a Mandrake indicates a critical flaw in her knowledge or a moment of profound carelessness.

No possessions of Lettice Somnolens are mentioned in the canon.

No relationships with family, friends, or other associates are known.

• Lettice: An archaic spelling of the word “lettuce,” a common garden vegetable. This name directly connects her to the world of plants and Herbology.
• Somnolens: A Latin word meaning “drowsy” or “sleepy.” This is likely a reference to the powerful soporific and potentially fatal properties of magical flora, most notably the cry of the Mandrake, which can render a person unconscious.

• In some of the Harry Potter video games, Lettice Somnolens appears on a Chocolate Frog Card. The card describes her as a “renowned but unlucky Herbologist” (video game).