I wanted to discuss a plant that is Holy. The Mandrake--the opposite of Holy --Mandragora officinarum. There are many legends with this plant. It is poisonous and should not be be considered in any form. The roots are thought to have hallucinogenic properties. I am discussing it because it is mentioned in the Bible. The mandrake is from the Family Solonaceae. The flowers are clusters of white to pale purple bell shaped flowers. I will never see a mandrake here. It is found in the southeastern Mediterranean.
From the Bible:
"The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." Song of Solomon 7:13(KJW)
These plants are loaded with poisonous alkaloids. It is said that the flavor is sickeningly sweet, but will produce dizziness, madness and death if eaten. The Mandrake root is large, brown and rugged. Some say it resembles the human body. It is said to be used in love potions and incarnations. I cannot understand this if the plant kills. Well, maybe you do want to kill your lover. Or perhaps the lover of your partner.
Evil is said to fall upon anyone who digs up the root of a mandrake. The Jews tied their dogs to the root to pull out of the plant from the ground. This way bad luck would fall upon the dog and not the Master. How clever.
Do you remember seeing Mandrakes in Harry Potter
Even my beloved Shakespeare wrote about mandrake in Antony and Cleopatra:
Give me to drink mandragora
That I may sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.
Until tomorrow…