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Mandragora autumnalis

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Drawing by famous Danish artist; Kirsten Tind. Enlarge.


A live plant from Naturewonders.org.

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.


And from Harry Potter.