# John The Conkeroo **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 22, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-the-conkeroo/540324 "2010-05-22T01:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-the-conkeroo/540324/1 "2010-05-22T01:09:51Z")
About time for a review on the correct plant ID for Cecil’s classic [John the Conkeroo](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/284/what-is-the-john-the-conqueroo-made-famous-by-blues-singers) answer, and I’d suppose he knows it, as it is specifically mentioned on the [Wiki page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Conqueror) for the topic. Gotta say, botanically speaking, that Ipomoea jalapa makes more sense than Hypericum sp. for use of the root as a talisman, regardless of actual medicinal use. Hypericum, St. John’s Wort, would be the more notable herb with a well-known historic use in 1973, so I can understand Cecil’s response at the time. But, John the Conqueroo is used as a dried root for totin’ around in your Mojo bag, and [the root Ipomoea jalapa/purga](http://www.luluherbal.com/images/uploads/JALAP_ROOT_WHOLE_BULBS.jpg) is more toward a hefty talisman than[hypericum’s](http://www.invasive.org/images/192x128/1459529.jpg) fibrous root structure. The Jalapa root is supposed to have added weight in that it has a testicular quality to it, and, man, if yer gonna have a root of power, as a bluesman, ya want it to echo the best symbolism ya know. Medicinally, the immediate effects of Jalapa is to make ya puke, so, it’s a give and take . Another observance in cultivation of both plants: Hypericums make lots and lots of teeny seeds, kinda hard to transport, and Ipomoeas have large seeds , which are easy to passalong and create a crop of a desired item. ---
**Author:** ![kfraser34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kfraser34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kfraser34)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-the-conkeroo/540324/2 "2010-05-22T03:24:37Z")
lol@ that wiki page for John the Conquer… It even mentions that Cecil is wrong and this [Catherine Yronwode](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_yronwode) is supposed to be right… so what’s it gonna be Unca Cece??? An acknowledgment off this woman’s superior research skills or a rebuttal that demonstrates that she is full of shit??? ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-the-conkeroo/540324/3 "2010-05-24T02:52:28Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > About time for a review on the correct plant ID for Cecil’s classic [John the Conkeroo](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/284/what-is-the-john-the-conqueroo-made-famous-by-blues-singers) answer, and I’d suppose he knows it, as it is specifically mentioned on the [Wiki page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Conqueror) for the topic. > > Gotta say, botanically speaking, that Ipomoea jalapa makes more sense than Hypericum sp. for use of the root as a talisman, regardless of actual medicinal use. Hypericum, St. John’s Wort, would be the more notable herb with a well-known historic use in 1973, so I can understand Cecil’s response at the time. > > But, John the Conqueroo is used as a dried root for totin’ around in your Mojo bag, and [the root Ipomoea jalapa/purga](http://www.luluherbal.com/images/uploads/JALAP_ROOT_WHOLE_BULBS.jpg) is more toward a hefty talisman than[hypericum’s](http://www.invasive.org/images/192x128/1459529.jpg) fibrous root structure. > > The Jalapa root is supposed to have added weight in that it has a testicular quality to it, and, man, if yer gonna have a root of power, as a bluesman, ya want it to echo the best symbolism ya know. Medicinally, the immediate effects of Jalapa is to make ya puke, so, it’s a give and take . > > Another observance in cultivation of both plants: Hypericums make lots and lots of teeny seeds, kinda hard to transport, and Ipomoeas have large seeds , which are easy to passalong and create a crop of a desired item. I vote for Catherine Yronrode. She is a longtime contributor the Yahoo pre-war-blues group. - Amy van Singel, Lliving Blues Magazine