Mandrake (Mandragora)  Plant info:
Mandrake has a large, brown root, somewhat like a parsnip, running 3 or 4 feet deep into the ground, sometimes single and sometimes divided into two or three branches. Immediately from the crown of the root arise several large, dark-green leaves, which at first stand erect, but when grown to full size a foot or more in length and 4 or 5 inches in width - spread open and lie upon the ground. They are sharp pointed at the apex and of a foetid odour. From among these leaves spring the flowers, each on a separate foot-stalk, 3 or 4 inches high. They are somewhat of the shape and size of a primrose, the corolla bell-shaped, cut into five spreading segments, of a whitish colour, somewhat tinged with purple. They are succeeded by a smooth, round fruit, about as large as a small apple, of a deep yellow colour when ripe, full of pulp and with a strong, apple-like scent. Mandrake root is available to buy here: | Mythology:
The Mandrake has, from ancient times, been closely associated with magic, and valued for its aphrodisiac qualities. Treated with the greatest of reverence by the Ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, the mandrake root was used as a talisman, and these ancient civilizations attributed many remarkable properties to it.
In Ancient Greece, anyone who was going to dig up a mandrake had to perform a sacred ritual. First, they would have to draw three circles around the plant with a sword, face west and dance around it chanting. Because of its human shape, legend had it that the mandrake would emit a terrible scream and begin to emit blood when it was uprooted. The belief was that the unfortunate person responsible for uprooting a mandrake would then be struck dead. This explains the caution that was applied when anyone wanted to disturb this mystical root.
Magicians and wizards in the Middle Ages used powdered mandrake root as an incense for summoning up demons, and this helped it to gain the reputation of working in league with the Devil. It does contain a group of chemicals known as tropane alkaloids that are known to have hallucinogenic effects, and the deadly poison atropine, named after Atropos, one of the Three Moires or Gods of Destiny in Greek mythology. This would account for the potent effect this highly-prized plant had in magic working. Highly poisonous and narcotic, the mandrake was associated with medieval witchcraft, spell-casting and sorcery believing, as they did at the time, that this was the most magical of all plants and herbs.  Drawing of Mandrake roots from a 7th century manuscript
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