Mandragora autumnalis

Common Name: Autumn Mandrake

Family: Solanaceae

Synonym(s): Mandragora officinarum L.

Country of Origin: southern Europe

Description: Mandragora autumnalis is considered a synonym of M. officinarum by some authorities, while others consider it a distinct species. Molecular evidence suggests that it is indeed distinct and we have treated it as such here.^1,3

Mandragora autumnalis is a perennial herb with thick tuberous roots native to Southern Europe. Mandrake roots contain the alkaloid hyoscymine that is used for motion sickness and as a preoperative anesthetic. In early times Mandrake had magical properties ascribed to it because the roots sometimes have humanlike form. ²

Uses: Mandrake has had many reputed medicinal qualities but most of them have been dispelled. Ingestion of sufficient quantities of Mandragora are often fatal.

Accession #: 200201829

Accession Date: 2002-07-03 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 2101

Quantity: 1

Source: Matt Opel ex Horizon Herbs (seed)

Provenance:

Plant grown from seed (labelled Mandragora officinalis).  
Later determined by Matt Opel to be Mandragora autumnalis (most likely) due to fall blooming and purple flowers.  
Name changed 22DEC2011 by CMORSE. 

Culture: It likes a light, deep soil, as the roots run far down. They will do poorly in a soil that is chalky or excessively gravelly. If the soil is too wet in winter, the roots will rot. It is propagated from seeds which should be sown in deep flats or, better, singly in pots. These should be kept well-watered and when they reach a good size they should be carefully set out at least 2 feet apart.

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: euasterid I

Order: Solanales

Family: Solanaceae

SubFamily: Solanoideae