Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Magic/Abyssinian shrivelfig

Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Magic
Abyssinian Shrivelfig
Type	Magical plant
Features	Potion ingredient
First Appearance	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Overview

The Abyssinian Shrivelfig is a critical part of one potion, a Shrinking Solution, that Harry is called on to make.

Extended Description

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry's Herbology class is set to prune the Abyssinian Shrivelfigs. Ernie Macmillan, meeting him as part of the work of the class, takes the opportunity to state that he no longer believes Harry is the Heir of Slytherin.

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it is mentioned that one of the ingredients of the Shrinking Solution is shrivelfigs. Draco, claiming injury, says he needs someone to skin his shrivelfigs, and Professor Snape assigns that duty to Harry.

Analysis

We assume, from Professor Sprout having selected Abyssinian Shrivelfigs to cultivate in her arguably limited greenhouse space, that of all the available varieties, the best come from Abyssinia.

We also assume that like most figs, the flowers are on the inside of the "fruiting body". Muggle figs are pollinated by wasps that have evolved to crawl through the center of the fig, where the flowers are; the fig then matures with the seeds also on the inside. The outer skin is relatively valueless and so is routinely removed as part of the preparation for use.