Mandragora

Mandragora, commonly known as mandrake, is a small genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The best-known species is Mandragora officinarum. Mandrakes are perennial herbs with a thick, often forked root that has long drawn folkloric attention for its humanoid appearance. Leaves are large and dark green; flowers are small and bell-shaped, typically greenish to purple, and the berries that form are yellow to orange when ripe.

Mandragora is native to the Mediterranean region, including southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It grows in dry, rocky, well-drained soils, scrublands, and sometimes cultivated garden soil. The plant favors sunny locations and can be found in sparsely vegetated habitats or cultivated settings.

Chemistry and toxicity are defining features. The plant contains tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine (atropine) and scopolamine, with the root typically having the highest concentrations. All parts are poisonous if ingested in sufficient quantities, and exposure can cause dry mouth, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and delirium. Contact with sap can irritate the skin in some individuals.

Historically, mandrake features prominently in folklore and traditional medicine. It was used in ancient and medieval practice as an anesthetic, analgesic, emetic, and sedative, and its root’s humanoid shape fueled legends about its power and its supposed shriek when uprooted. In modern contexts, medicinal use is limited and tightly regulated; the plant is sometimes grown ornamentally, but it is kept away from children due to its toxicity.