the perennial mandrake, Mandragora officinalis, found throughout the Mediterranean

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This is a plant surrounded by legends. Its forked roots resemble a human figure which, by the doctrine of signatures, gives it powers as an aphrodisiac. Legend tells that the roots scream when pulled from the ground, a sound fatal to the hearer. This leads to imaginative ways of harvesting the roots 'A furrow must be dug around the root until its lower part is exposed, then a dog is tied to it, after which the person tying the dog must get away. The dog then endeavours to follow him, and so easily pulls up the root, but dies suddenly instead of his master. After this the root can be handled without fear' The plant is full of alkaloids and is used in orthodox medicine for pre-operative sedation.

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Size: 5007px × 3352px
Location: North Cyprus
Photo credit: © niftyflora / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aphrodisiac, family, flower, flowering, flowers, green, growing, large, leaves, mandragora, mandrake, medicinal, mediterranean, nightshade, officinalis, prostrate, purple, sedation, solonaceae, spring, wild, winter