AND THE ANSWER IS...

What plant did the Pied Piper use to rid Hamelin of rats? Valerian! In the 13th century when the story originated, valerian root was used to attract rats into traps. (Many people at the show thought it was used to make the rats drowsy, but it wasn't.) Valerian root has a rather strong smell that rats, and cats for that matter, really like. I'm not sure what the European variety of valerian smells like, but in the US it smells like dirty socks!

In the original story the Pied Piper had valerian roots in pockets all over his clothing and the rats gladly followed him while he played his flute. As the story was passed on reference to valerian disappeared, leaving only a very gifted flute player with no help from stinky roots.

So there you have it. The above illustration of valerian is one I did for the book Medicine From the Mountains: Medicinal Plants of the Sierra Nevada. To see more botanical illustrations go to Faery Medicine.