![]() It thrives in dry, sunny areas, particularly around ancient temples, but is nevertheless one of the rarest plants in Europe (Ratsch 1998, 346). It is also found in North Africa, the Middle East, and most Mediterranean islands. Mandragora officinarum is found in Southern Europe, and is particularly common in Greece and Italy. The mandrake also produces yellow berries that smell fruity but are more similar in flavor to tomatoes, and its leaves smell much like fresh tobacco (Ratsch 1998, 346). At all other times throughout the year the plant is hidden underground. The leaves form a rosette, from the center of which bell-shaped blue or violet flowers grow, making this rosette uniquely identifiable to the mandrake. ![]() officinarum is a perennial plant whose lengthy and wide leaves grow directly from its roots once each spring. Mandragora officinarum, or mandrake, is an herb most famous for its root, which can grow up to 100 cm (39”), and often takes on an unusual shape. “The Mandrake is the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ and the burning love ignited by its pleasure is the origin of the human race.” – Hugo Rahner It was also recommended for discovering treasures, and as an ingredient for charm for pregnancy.COMMON NAMES: Abu’l-ruh (Old Arabic, “master of the life breath”), Adamova Golowa (Russian, “Adam’s head”), Alrauinwortel (Dutch), Alrune (Swedish), Antimelon (“In The Apple’s Place”), Antimenion (Greek, “Counter Rage”), Apemum (Egyptian/Coptic), Baaras (Hebrew, “The Fire”), Bayd Al-jinn (modern Arabic, “Testes of the Demon”), Bombochylos (Greek, “A Juice that Produces Dull Sounds”), Ciceron (Roman, “Plant of Circe”), Diamonon, Dukkeurt (Danish, “Mad Root”), Kamaros (Greek, “Subject to Fate”), Love Apple, Luffah Manganin (Arabic, “Mad Apple”), Main de Gloire (French), Mala Canina (Roman, “Dog Apple”), Mala Terrestria (Roman, “earth apple”), Mandrake, Mannikin (Belgian, “little man”), Mardom Ghiah (Persian, “man’s plant”), Matragun (Romanian, “witch’s drink”), Matryguna (Galician), Mehr-egiah (Persian, “love plant”), Mela Canina (Italian, “dog apple”) Namtar Ira (Assyrian, “the male of the god of the plagues”), Natragulya (Hungarian), Pevenka Trava (Russian, “the plant that screams”), Pisdiefje (Dutch), Planta Semihominis (Roman, “half-man plant”), Pomo di Cane (Italian, “dog apple”), Satan’s apple, Siradsch Elkutrhrub (Andalusian Arabic, “root of the demon El-sherif”), Sirag El-kotrub (Arabic/Palestine, “devil’s lamp”), Taraila (Morocco), Tufah Al-jinn (modern Arabic, “apple of the demon”), Tufah Al-Majnun (Arabic, “ apple of Majnun”), Womandrake (English), Yabrough (Syrian Arabic, “life giver”), Yabruh (Arabic), Ya Pu Lu (Chinese), Yavruchin (Aramaic) Money placed beside the root is said to multiply. Also, where there is Mandrake, demons cannot abide. A whole Mandrake root placed in the home, will give the house protection, fertility, and prosperity. ![]() It was advisable to put wax in the ears before one attempted to do this: the mandrake would scream when pulled free and this could cause deafness. It could only be pulled from the ground after performing the necessary rituals. ![]() It was supposed to grow under the feet of a hanged man where his semen dripped on to the earth this would appear to be the reason for the methods employed by the alchemists who "projected human seed into animal earth". This idea is based on the shape of the root which is forked and roughly resembles the human figure. The mandrake or mandragora has, in folklore and superstition, always been regarded as a plant with powers. Mandragoras were also considered to be familiar demons under the shape of little dolls or figures given to sorcerers by the Devil for the purpose of being consulted by them in time of need. It was the female form that was carved in the Middle Ages into manikins. The female form is the most sought after for magic and medicinal use. In the old Herbals we find them frequently figured as a male with a long beard, and a female with a very bushy head of hair. Magically speaking, the female mandrake carries forked that look like a pair of human legs, whereas the male has only a single root. It is best known for the large brown root, running 3 to 4 feet into the ground sometimes single and sometimes forked into two or three distinctive branches which gives the plant a rough resemblance to that of a human monster form. ![]() The flowers eventually fruit into small orange-coloured fleshy berries with a strong, apple-like scent, hence the name Satan's Apples. Mandrake is a long leaved (nearly a foot long, and 6" wide) dark green plant with small greenish-yellow or purple bell-shaped flowers that drow on 3-4" stalks. Tradition says that it can turn into a small humanoid that will serve his master. The mandrake or mandragoras is a real plant which has been attributed magical properties because of its monstrous shape. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |