Solanaceae

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

• 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.

Restrictions:

• Poisonous Plant Parts - Not for Human Consumption
  Mandrake posesses high content of the alkaloids scopolamine, mandragorin, and hyosciamine.

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Accession Data:

• Accession # 200201829
• 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.
• Accession Date: 07-03-2002
• Bench: 2101 - MED:Mediterranean A
• Qty: 2 confirmed on 01-23-2013

Classification:

• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• SubClass: euasterid I
• Order: Solanales
• SubOrder:
• Family: Solanaceae
• SubFamily: Solanoideae
• Tribe:
• SubTribe:

References:

1. Wikipedia
2. Cal's Plant of the Week

page generated on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:15:35 -0500