Author: | Antonio
Bertoloni, 1820 |
Family: |
SOLANACEAE |
Origin: |
Algeria,
Baleares, Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, Greece, Iran, Italy,
Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna,
Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey |
Soil: |
Rich Mix |
Water:
|
Medium - Maximum |
Sun: |
Medium |
Thickness: |
10
Centimetres |
Height: |
15
Centimetres |
Flower:
|
Violet
(M.
officinarum: Yellow!) |
Propagate: |
Seeds/Tubers |
Names:
|
Autumn
Mandrake, Mediterranean Mandrake, Mandragore, Alraunwurzel,
Mandrágora |
Synonyms: |
Mandragora
officinarum L.
Mandragora vernalis Antonio
Bertoloni, 1824.
Mandragora foemina, Garsault.
Mandragora haussknechtii, Heldr.
Mandragora hispanica, Vierh.
Mandragora hybrida, Hausskn. & Heldr.
Mandragora microcarpa, Bertol. |
This member of the Solanaceae
family was given this name by Antonio
Bertoloni in 1820. It is found in north
Africa, western Asia and southern Europe. It preferring a well drained but rich
soil with
some to lots of water and some to full sun. The swollen roots can
grow to ten centimetres in diameter - or more, and can be raised.
The flowers are violet, and beside from seeds, the plant can be
reproduced by dividing the roots.It is mentioned in many folklore legends, probably due to the roots
alikeness to the human body. Got a rather big role in Harry Potter,
where the deathly scream while repotting was mentioned. According to
folklore, you would die, if you pulled it up. The safe way was to
tie a dog to it, and let the dog pull it up.
The genera name after the
Hebrew name דודאים, dûdã'im, meaning 'love plant'. Linneaus just
used the old name. The species name as it flowers in the autumn.
Poison ; contains alkaloids
scopolamine, mandragorin, and hyosciamine.
SubFamily: Solanoideae. |