324 FLORA HISTORTCA. 



MANDRAKE. Atropa Mandragora. 



Natural Order Luridce. Solanea, Juss. A Genus of 

 the Pentandria Monogynia Class. 



La Mandragore qu'on arrache, 

 Long-temps resiste avec effort, 

 Jette un grand cri, frappe de mort 

 Le bras haxdi qui la detache. 



I do not mean to wake the gloomy form 

 Of Superstition. 



This plant, which has been rendered celebrated by 

 absurdity, is indigenous to classical ground ; and 

 on this account, as well as the wonderful tales that 

 have been handed down to us from antiquity, it 

 naturally excites some degree of interest in the in- 

 quisitive mind. 



In symbolical language, the Mandrake is made 

 the emblem of any thing rare or extraordinary, and 

 from the earliest ages appears to have excited great 

 veneration amongst the inhabitants of eastern coun- 

 tries, on account of its supposed extraordinary pro- 

 perties, as well as its rarity. 



It is generally believed that the Atropa, or Man- 

 drake, is the same plant which the ancient Hebrews 



