PDAZ and the Mysterious Mandrake Quiz

Answer: It's Ancient Greek for "harmful to cattle".

Most sources list Ancient Greek as the source of the term, but the meaning is unclear. It has also been suggested that the name is derived from the name of a Greek physician or that the term "mandragora" is a corruption of Persian or Sanskrit words related to the plant.

Another theory is that it is a combination of "man" and "dragon"; this theory may have some substance since "drake" is an archaic word for "dragon". As for the "harmful to cattle" allegation, all parts of the plant are toxic (although sources vary on the potency of the toxins) so grazing on it is not recommended.

Answer: As an anesthetic for surgery

The Greek physician Dioscorides described mandrakes as being "given to those who are going to be cut or burnt (cauterized) and wish to have anesthesia". This property of mandrakes has a basis in truth. Being a member of the nightshade family, the roots contain a narcotic alkaloid. Mandrake was used to treat a wide variety of ailments including melancholy, rheumatism and convulsions.

In large doses, it was alleged to cause madness and delirium, which earned it one of its nicknames, "Satan's Apple". Conversely, it was also alleged to be useful in treating demonic possession. PDAZ interprets this to mean that, if a large dose resulted in madness and delirium, the symptoms were treated with another dose...

Answer: It's alleged to be an aphrodisiac.

The mandrake's reputation as an aphrodisiac has also resulted in it being called "Aphrodite's Plant" and "Circe's Plant". It was alleged to be used in this capacity by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, among other cultures. Apparently, this benefit is also known to elephants; legend has it that they consume mandrakes for this purpose.

Answer: It cures barrenness.

In the Biblical story, Rachel is cured of her infertility by mandrakes found by Leah's son. Niccolo Machiavelli's story "The Mandrake" also credited the root with this power. In some cultures, mandrakes are placed under the marriage bed to guarantee a fertile marriage. Oddly enough, mandrakes are also alleged to cause miscarriages, so the barrenness cure seems rather pointless.

Answer: A human

According to the legend, the mandrake was molded out of the same piece of clay that was used to make Adam. The root's habit of dividing into two branches (legs) and sprouting side rootlets (arms) gives it a human-like appearance. Since "the human" dwells underground, it is associated with demons and thus, with magic.

At various times in history, possessing a mandrake would result in an accusation of witchery (of course, if you were using mandrakes, you probably were one).

Answer: A hanged man

Legend has it that mandrakes grow best under the spot where a man has been hanged. This is the basis for another of the mandrake's nicknames: Little Gallows Man. Granted, a hanged man isn't all that easy to find today, but PDAZ is willing to move to Texas and wait it out.

Answer: A deadly shriek

A mandrake will scream as it is torn from the earth, and its shriek causes death. Thus, mandrake hunters have resorted to protective means to extract the plant, including sealing their ears shut with wax and/or blowing a trumpet to drown out the sound of the mandrake.

Answer: An animal

An animal, usually a dog, is tied to the mandrake. The mandrake hunter stands a short distance away and while blowing a trumpet, tosses meat towards the dog. As the dog runs to it, the shrieking mandrake is torn from the ground. The hunter is safe because the trumpet drowns out the sound of the mandrake.

Unfortunately, the dog is too close to the mandrake; it hears the scream and dies. PDAZ is too much of an animal lover to use a dog, so she substitutes a scurvy pirate. The pirate can't resist the rum that she dangles in front of him, and the mandrake is successfully extracted.

Answer: Vinegar

Tried and true recipe for a mandrake love potion (allegedly): Scrape the root and then steep it overnight in vinegar. Drain it and mash the root. Mix it into a glass of wine and serve!

Disclaimer: PDAZ wishes to remind readers that this is a myth; mash up and drink toxic roots at your own risk.

Answer: The mandrake was a forgery.

Mandrakes fetch a good price, so some unscrupulous mandrake sellers actually plant similar-looking bryony roots that have been carved into the shape of a mandrake and have had seeds attached to the head. After a few weeks, the roots have grown to resemble mandrakes and can be extracted without loss of life.

Naturally, these fake mandrakes have no power. Apparently, the mandrake PDAZ had obtained had been planted by a miscreant who hadn't yet harvested his creation.