Mandragora officinarum Mandrake PFAF Plant Database

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Mandragora officinarum - L.

Common Name

Mandrake

Family

Solanaceae

Synonyms

Atropa acaulis Stokes. Atropa mandragora L.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous[19, 21]. Only slightly so according to one report[89]. Not recommended as a herbal medicine [301]. Toxicity signs include: skin reddening, dry mouth, tachycardia, arrhythmias, pupil dilation [301].

Habitats

Open woodland, deserted fields and stony places[21, 89].

Range

South-eastern Europe.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Mandragora officinarum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
It is hardy to zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf 7-Mar It is in flower from Mar to April, and the seeds ripen from Jul to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.The plant is self-fertile.

Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.


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Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit. Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. A delicacy[89]. The fruit is about the size of a small apple, with a strong apple-like scent[4]. Caution is advised in the use of this fruit, it is quite possibly poisonous[K].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Cathartic; Emetic; Hallucinogenic; Narcotic.

Mandrake has a long history of medicinal use, though superstition has played a large part in the uses it has been applied to. It is rarely prescribed in modern herbalism[238], though it contains hyoscine which is the standard pre-operative medication given to soothe patients and reduce bronchial secretions[244]. It is also used to treat travel sickness[244]. The fresh or dried root contains highly poisonous alkaloids and is cathartic, strongly emetic, hallucinogenic and narcotic[4, 21, 46, 192, 244]. In sufficient quantities it induces a state of oblivion and was used as an anaesthetic for operations in early surgery[238]. It was much used in the past for its anodyne and soporific properties[4]. In the past, juice from the finely grated root was applied externally to relieve rheumatic pains, ulcers and scrofulous tumours[244]. It was also used internally to treat melancholy, convulsions and mania[244]. When taken internally in large doses, however, it is said to excite delirium and madness[4]. The root should be used with caution, and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[21, 238]. See the notes above on toxicity. The leaves are harmless and cooling. They have been used for ointments and other external applications to ulcers etc[4].

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a deep humus-rich light soil and a sheltered position in full sun[238]. It also tolerates some shade[200]. Prefers a circumneutral soil[200] and dislikes chalk or gravel[4]. Plants are liable to rot in wet or ill-draining soils[4]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[187]. The roots are somewhat carrot-shaped and can be up to 1.2 metres long[4]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and should be put out into their permanent positions as soon as possible[188]. The root often divides into two and is vaguely suggestive of the human body. In the past it was frequently made into amulets which were believed to bring good fortune, cure sterility etc[244]. There is a superstition that if a person pulls up this root they will be condemned to hell[244]. Therefore in the past people have tied the roots to the bodies of animals and then used these animals in order to pull the roots out of the soil.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame in the autumn[188]. The seed can also be sown in spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Root cuttings in winter[200]. Division. This can be rather difficult since the plants resent root disturbance.

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Expert comment

Author
L.

Botanical References
89200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.

Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.

Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.

An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[89]Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean.

A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.

[187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.

Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[188]Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[192]Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants

A lot of details about the history, chemistry and use of narcotic plants, including hallucinogens, stimulants, inebriants and hypnotics.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[244]Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs

Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.

[301]Karalliedde. L. and Gawarammana. I. Traditional Herbal Medicines

A guide to the safer use of herbal medicines.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
	Mon Jan 24 04:00:01 2005

Vespid ( etopsid ) is a chemotherapy drug made from the alkaloids of the mandrake plant.

Elizabeth H.
Chris Poirot	Sat Oct 16 13:07:58 2004

In several herbal exibitions and botanical gardens a distinction seems to be made between so called "male" and "female" plants.

Since the plant is apparently hermaphroditic an even self-fertile, what can be the reason (if any) for this distinction?

Ar there varieties or even related species of Mandragra (officinarum) colloquially called "male or "female" Or is all this just another mystification, i.e. not based on any sound taxonomic grounds?

Elizabeth H.
Corwin	Fri Jan 26 2007

In regards to the "male" versus "female" distinction this is in refers to the shape that the roots grow in. The "female" being a forked root with two branches and the single being the male. This is associated with it's ancient proported qualities as an "Aphrodisiac". The female for was carved, in the middle ages, into human forms called manikins and were worn to give good luck. Perhaps the earliest ref to this herb is in Genesis 30:14-17.

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