Several species of plants, mainly seaweeds and marine flowering plants, were used as sources of iodine (discovered there in 1811) for pharmaceutical purposes. Irrespectively, many a preparation of marine organisms (algae, sponges, crabs) has been accurately and successfully used in curing the goitre not later than since 17th century, without relationship of their medicinal action to the iodine content. This paper focuses on the list of iodine-supplying plant species in use since its discovery until the end of 19th century.