mandragora officinarum

Mandragora officinarum
    n 1: a plant of southern Europe and North Africa having purple
         flowers, yellow fruits and a forked root formerly thought
         to have magical powers [syn: {mandrake}, {devil's apples},
         {Mandragora officinarum}]
    

mandrake \man"drake\ (m[a^]n"dr[=a]k), n. [AS. mandragora, L.
   mandragoras, fr. Gr. mandrago`ras: cf. F. mandragore.]
   1. (Bot.) A low plant ({Mandragora officinarum}) of the
      Nightshade family, having a fleshy root, often forked, and
      supposed to resemble a man. It was therefore supposed to
      have animal life, and to cry out when pulled up. All parts
      of the plant are strongly narcotic. It is found in the
      Mediterranean region.
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            And shrieks like mandrakes, torn out of the earth,
            That living mortals, hearing them, run mad. --Shak.
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   Note: The mandrake of Scripture was perhaps the same plant,
         but proof is wanting.
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   2. (Bot.) The May apple ({Podophyllum peltatum}). See {May
      apple} under {May}, and {Podophyllum}. [U.S.]
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