Mandragora (or mandrake in English) is a small genus of tap-rooted plants in the family Solanaceae. Like a dandelion or dock, there is a long, slender taproot with a growing point on top of it. The mandrake barely qualifies as a “bulb”, but the historical interest of its thick fleshy root probably justifies inclusion on the PBS Wiki.
The genus Mandragora seems to be in a state of confusion and the number of species is uncertain. However, at least two species are clearly distinguishable:
- Mandragora officinarum; spring flowering, leaves light green looking somewhat like a demented Swiss chard, flowers dull yellow-ish-y.
- Mandragora autumnalis; flowers somewhat earlier, leaves darker green, more or less flat, with something of a metallic cast; flowers dully purplish. Photo by Rodger Whitlock.
Historically, the mandrake was a plant embued with mystical properties from earliest times. Its root was considered to be humanoid and in fact to be a homunculus of sorts which would scream when dug up. Moreover, the entire plant (like many other members of the Solanaceae) is rich in alkaloids such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine, atropine, and others.
The folklore surrounding the mandrake is readily accessible via Google, but let me give two words of warning:
- First, the plant is not attractive. It is definitely one of those plants described as “for the gardens of the curious.” Moreover, it takes up a fair amount of space and the large leaves of M. officinarum can smother other plants too close to the mandrake.
- Second, do not believe any of the claptrap about herbal uses of the mandrake. The plant is not innocuous and you can easily kill yourself or someone else if you try taking it.
If you are dying to grow the mandrake, try to get fresh seed. Stored seed tends to germinate slowly and erratically, whereas seed sown fresh comes up very well the following spring. Sow in a very deep pot so the young taproots have plenty of room. Plant out when the seedlings are, say, three years old or show signs of crowding. In my experience, once a mandrake seedling is planted out, the growing point rots away during the winter. The surviving taproot eventually calluses over and forms a new growing point; after some years this seems to be no longer subject to rotting.
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