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The convallaria majalis, a flowering perennial herb with white petals commonly known as lily of the valley, is not native to the New Mexico setting of “Breaking Bad” but grows heartily in the semiarid climate there, decorating gardens in a carpet of vegetation and creeping along sidewalks. However, as noted in the scientific journal Essential Emergency Medicine, every part of the plant also contains digitalis glycosides, distant cousins of cyanide, rendering it toxic if ingested. Skipping over medical terminology, the salient fact is that those toxins absorb into the bloodstream through the GI tract within minutes of ingestion.
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As it relates to Brock’s poisoning in “Breaking Bad,” Walter White’s use of the lily of the valley reveals his conniving wit and highlights some of the show’s most prominent themes. In choosing the lily of the valley to poison Brock, Walt is counting on the fact that it’s a typical New Mexico plant to deflect any suspicions Jesse might have since Brock could easily have found the plant on his own. Additionally, the lily of the valley is an interesting choice of poison from a thematic perspective. In a way, it represents the same themes shown by the show’s main character. A flowering plant that grows in the desert, innocent-looking but poisonous and ever-expanding across the landscape. It might as well be a description of Walt himself.