2gg THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS III. 
MANDRAGORA, Toum. THE MANDRAKE. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Genfric Charactek. — Calyx turbinate, five-angled, five-cleft. 
Corolla cnmpanulate, five-cleft. Stamens five. Filaments dilated at 
the base, and connivent ; but filiform and divaricate at the apex. 
Ovarium furnished with a circuhir gland round the base, which is 
Description, &c. — The Mandrake was celebrated in ancient times as having been employed by witches in 
their incantations, and many wild tales were told of it, and once firmly believed. 
drawn out into two horns. Stigma capitate having the receptacles 
rather prominent inside. Seeds many, reuiform, disposed in a 
simple series. (G. Don)i 
The fatal Mandrake is, I ween, 
As strange a plant as e'er was seen : 
Although it springs from mother earth. 
Wild and unholy was its birth. 
It grows from seed no eye shall sec — 
The fat tiiat drops from the gallows-tree. 
And screams ring from its quivering leaves. 
When human hand its blossoms reeves. 
The fictions related of this plant appear to have arisen from the shape of the roots, which bear some resem- 
blance to the human form ; and the bad character it has so long borne probably took its origin from its being 
poisonous, and one of those poisons which are difBcult to detect on a post-mortem examination of the body. The 
name of Mandragora is said to be derived from two Greek words, signifying, cruel to oxen ; and the English name 
of Mandrake is either derived from the Greek name, or alludes to the supposed half-human nature of the plant. 
The appearance of the Mandrake is rather singular ; the leaves are very large, and broad, rising from the root ; 
the plant has no proper stem, and the flower-stalks are always shorter than the leaves ; the flowers arc produced 
singly, with distinct segments to the corolla, and stamens which are widely apart, instead of having their anthers 
close together, as in the genus Solanum. The roots are large and fleshy, and they are usually forked, so as to 
bear some resemblance to human legs. 
1.— MANDRAGORA OFFICINARUM, Lin. THE COMMON MANDRAKE. 
Synonymes. — M. officinalis. Mill.; M. vernalis, Spring.; M. a foot long, undulated, entire ; at first erect, then spreading. Root 
acaulis, Gmrtn.; Atropa Mandragora, Ball. and flowers white. Segments of the calyx lanceolate, linear, acumin- 
Specifjc Character. — Leaves oblong, lanceolate and ovate, acute, ate ; segments of the corolla acute. (G. Don.) 
Descbimion, &c. — This is the plant that is fabled to grow under a gallows, from the decay of dead 
bodies hanging there ; and that is said to utter shrieks and groans when its leaves and flowers are gathered, or 
when it is pulled up. Witches were also said to hold a plant of this mandrake in their hands while muttering 
their incantations. It was said to be so poisonous as to kill those who gathered it : and in the old herbals it is 
gravely advised to tie a dog to any plant of it that is to be pulled up, to avoid the danger of touching it. The 
flower is not remarkable for its beauty. It is of a pale blue. The fruit is as large as a nutmeg, and of a yellowish 
green when ripe. Tlie root is very fleshy, usually white, and frequently from three to four feet long. Its only 
medicinal qualities are those of an opiate, and if taken in large quantities it generally proves fatal. 
2 — MANDRAGORA PR.ffiCOX, Swt. THE EARLY -FLOWERING MANDRAKE. 
SvNoNVMEs. — Atropa Mandragora, B. Lam. ; A. M. foemina, I bullately wrinkled, villosely pubescent, rising at the same time as tbe 
Bull. ; M. officinalis, B. Dec flowers ; segments of the calyx lanceolate, acute, keeled ; segments of 
Engraving. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard., t. 198. the corolla reflexed, spreading. 
Specific CiiAiiAcxER. — Leaves lanceolate, oblong, obtuse, undulated, ' 
Description, &c. — This is a very singular little plant, the root is very large and fleshy, dividing into two 
portions a little below the ground. The leaves rise in a mass directly from the root, forming a sort of cup. in 
