Mandrake🌿

A perennial in the nightshade family, native from the Mediterranean to the Himalayas. Roots branching in a human-like form made this plant a subject of magic and folklore — medieval Europe believed it would scream when uprooted and kill those who heard. Famous from the Old Testament to Harry Potter. All parts contain tropane alkaloids and are toxic, but have been used since antiquity as anaesthetics and aphrodisiacs. Japanese name 'koi-nasubi'.

Identification Points

• ✓Large rosette of basal leaves spread on the ground
• ✓Thick spindle-shaped root often branching in a human-like form
• ✓Bell-shaped purple to pale yellow flowers arising from the centre

Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification

Phylogenetic Positionナス科 →