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Mandrake
Mandragora officinarum
Nicole Stivers


Mandrake






Family: Solanaceae or the nightshades family. There are approximately 98 genera and 2700 species. Genus: Mandragora Species: officinarum Common Names: mandrake, mandragora, Satan's apple, testes of the demon, man's plant, witch's drink Relatives: potato, tomato, eggplant, belladonna, chili pepper, bell pepper, tobacco plant



Geography of Cultivation




Mandrake is native to the Mediterranean, particularly northern Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia. The plant remains in this region. Since the plant is not desired by most, cultivation in other regions is due to religious and superstitious reasons.


Morphological Description







Mandrake is a variable perennial herbaceous plant with a long thick root, often branched. It has almost no stem, and the elliptical or obovate leaves that vary in length are borne in a basal rosette. The flowers appear from autumn to spring. They are greenish white to blue or violet. The fruit forms in late autumn to early summer. The berry is yellow or orange and resembles a tomato. The mandrake is poisonous, especially the roots and leaves. This is due to tropane alkaloids that are present.


Features of Cultivation


Mandrake is hardy in USDA zones 6-8. It prefers a deep, rich soil. The roots will rot in poorly drained or clay soil. Full sun or partial shade is preferred. It takes about two years for the plant to become established and set fruit, and during this time the soil needs to be well-watered.



Plant Uses




They have been associated with a variety of superstitious practices, such as magic rituals. Modern pagan religions, such as Wicca and Odinism, also use mandrake in their practices. Due to its humanlike appearance, the root was often made into an amulet that was believed to bring good fortune and cure sterility.


Plant Uses, Cont.





Mandrake also has a long history of medicinal use. The root is hallucinogenic and narcotic. Taken in sufficient quantities, it induces a state of oblivion and could be used as an anesthetic for surgery. Juice from the grated root was applied externally to relieve rheumatic pains. It was also used internally to treat melancholy, convulsions, and mania. Large doses could cause madness and delirium.


Effects of Consumption


Due to the poisonous nature of this plant, there are numerous side effects associated with its consumption.


Vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, dilation of the pupils, dryness of the mouth, difficulty urinating, dizziness, headache, tachycardia, hyperactivity, hallucinations, and asphyxiation.


Use In North America and of Native Americans






This plant is not native to North America. A nonrelated species of wild mandrake, Podophyllum peltatum, is used instead in rituals. It is also poisonous. The Native Americans used wild mandrake as an emetic, cathartic, and antihelmintic agent. They also boiled the root and drank the water to cure stomach aches. It is used topically to treat warts.


Random Facts






In one superstition, a person who pulls a mandrake from the ground is condemned to hell. The mandrake would scream as it was pulled from the ground, killing all who heard it. People would tie the plant to an animal and have it pull the mandrake out instead. The mandrake was fabled to grow under the gallows of murderers.


Random Facts, Cont.




In the Bible, mandrake was used by Jacob's infertile second wife, Rachel, to become pregnant. In the Harry Potter book series, the Hogwarts greenhouses had mandragora. They, too, were humanlike and the scream was fatal. The mandrake was used to revive those that had been petrified.


References




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanaceae http://entheology.com/plants/mandragoraofficinarum-mandrake/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandragora_offici narum http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornament al/flowers/mandrake/mandrake-plantgrowing.htm http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/ mandra10.html