Here are some of my top choices in no particular order. Some of them are old favorites, and some of them are herbs I'd LIKE to know better and use more often
( and haven't as yet nixed from the apothecary at home).
Elder
Yarrow
Rose
Wood Betony
Vervain
rosemary
sage
peony
turmeric
juniper
So, some of them have lots of lore and writings, and some of them have less. If I pick one with more, I'll probably learn more, but create more work for myself. I could pick one with less writing on it, and do more experiential learning. I could pick herbs that have multiple useful plant parts, or many varied uses. I could pick something that grows around here (not that anything is growing during the winter). I think of all the wonderful stories surrounding elder, and want to pick it. And then I think of the wonderfulness of wild roses and want to pick her. but I love wood betony so very much as a nervine....
and yarrow, beloved yarrow, my first ally and medicine plant as a 12 yr old.
I dont know how to pick just ONE herb for a thesis. Sheesh! My top 4 choices are probably yarrow rose elder and wood betony...but still, to narrow it down is tough.
So, in the next few weeks as I'm thinking about how to narrow down my choice to just one herb to focus on for the next 5 months ( paper is due in March), maybe you'll share with me what herb YOU"D pick to study in depth for a few months and choose to write on, and why.
Obviously none of us is limited to studying and writing about one herb, we hav ea lifetime to explore all of the herbs, but if you were to pick just one, right now, tell me what it would be and why.