Mandrake

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For the Linux variant, see Mandriva Linux
Fruits of Mandragora officinalis
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Fruits of Mandragora officinalis

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Illustration of mandrake in a textbook fo the 15th century
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Illustration of mandrake in a textbook fo the 15th century

Mandrake is the comomn name of a number of plants in the Nightshade family, genus Mandragora. The roots often look like man or woman, or can be easily made to resemvle them. The plant has been used in witchcraft for a long time.

According to this literature, the plant shrieks in pain, when it is pulled from the ground. This shriek is able to make a person deaf. He might also loose his mind, or even be killed, if he is unprotected.

Mandrake (Mandragora officinalis) has been used an anaestethic for a long time. For this, it was usually prepared in an alcoholic solution.

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