'Mandragora officinarum' definitions:
Definition of 'Mandragora officinarum'
(from WordNet)
noun
A plant of southern Europe and North Africa having purple flowers, yellow fruits and a forked root formerly thought to have magical powers [syn: mandrake, devil's apples, Mandragora officinarum]
Definition of 'Mandragora officinarum'
From: GCIDE
- mandrake \man"drake\ (m[a^]n"dr[=a]k), n. [AS. mandragora, L. mandragoras, fr. Gr. mandrago`ras: cf. F. mandragore.]
- 1. (Bot.) A low plant (Mandragora officinarum) of the Nightshade family, having a fleshy root, often forked, and supposed to resemble a man. It was therefore supposed to have animal life, and to cry out when pulled up. All parts of the plant are strongly narcotic. It is found in the Mediterranean region. [1913 Webster]
- And shrieks like mandrakes, torn out of the earth, That living mortals, hearing them, run mad. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The mandrake of Scripture was perhaps the same plant, but proof is wanting. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Bot.) The May apple (Podophyllum peltatum). See {May apple} under May, and Podophyllum. [U.S.] [1913 Webster]