Difference between revisions of "Mandrakes"

<p> The '''''Αtropa Mandragore''''' , of the order '''''Solanaceae''''' , allied to the deadly nightshade ( '''''Αtropa Belladonna''''' ); a stupefying narcotic with broad dark green leaves, flowers purple, and green apples which become pale yellow when ripe, with a tuberous bifid (forked) root. Still found ripe in wheat harvest (May) on the lower parts of [[Lebanon]] and Hermon (&nbsp;Genesis 30:14). The apples produce dizziness and exhilaration. The ancients believed them calculated to produce fecundity. Their [[Hebrew]] name, '''''Duwdaim''''' , "love apples," agrees with their being used as aphrodisiacs to conciliate love; Rachel had this superstitious notion (&nbsp;Genesis 30:14-17). The odor is too strong to be agreeable to Europeans, but Orientals value strong-smelling things; Dioscorides calls the apples "sweet-scented." &nbsp;Song of Solomon 7:13, "the mandrakes give a smell." The root was fancied to resemble man, and to form a potent magical spell, and to emit a human groan on being torn from the ground! </p>

<p> [[Mandrakes]] (Heb. ''Love Plants'' ). Modern Bible scholars apply this name to a member of the potato family ( ''Mandragora Officinalis'' ). This is a stemless plant with a disk of leaves almost as long, but not nearly as broad, as those of the garden rhubarb, which it somewhat resembles, except in its blossoms. The odor of the plant seems to be enjoyed by Orientals, &nbsp;Song of Solomon 7:13, and by ''Some'' Occidentals. Many strange superstitions are connected with this plant, and the idea of Rachel's time still prevails that conception is ensured by eating the fruit of this plant. &nbsp;Genesis 30:14-16. </p>

<p> ''''' man´drāks ''''' ( דּוּדאים , <i> ''''' dūdhā'ı̄m ''''' </i> ; μανδραγόπας , <i> ''''' mandragóras ''''' </i> (&nbsp; Genesis 30:14 f; &nbsp; Song of Solomon 7:13 ); the marginal reading "love apples" is due to the supposed connection of <i> ''''' dūdhā'ı̄m ''''' </i> with דּודים , <i> ''''' dōdhı̄m ''''' </i> , "love"): Mandrakes are the fruit of the <i> Mandragora officinarum </i> , a member of the <i> Solanaceae </i> or potato order, closely allied to the <i> Atropa belladonna </i> . It is a common plant all over Palestine, flourishing particularly in the spring and ripening about the time of the wheat harvest (&nbsp;Genesis 30:14 ). The plant has a rosette of handsome dark leaves, dark purple flowers and orange, tomato-like fruit. The root is long and branched; to pull it up is still considered unlucky (compare Josephus, <i> BJ </i> , VII, vi, 3). The fruit is called in Arabic <i> ''''' baiḍ ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' jinn ''''' </i> , the "eggs of the jinn"; they have a narcotic smell and sweetish taste, but are too poisonous to be used as food. They are still used in folklore medicine in Palestine. The plant was well known as an aphrodisiac by the ancients (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 7:13 ). </p>