Herb of the week: Mandrake ~B

[Guest guest]

Mandrax,

Another picture I took.

I found this one in my backyard.

 

Other

common names: American Mandrake, Mayapple, Raccoon

Berry, Wild Lemon, Indian Apple, Duck's Foot, Hog Apple, Umbrella

Plant, Ground Lemon

 

American Mandrake Root: is a strong and powerful

purgative that has been used historically and primarily to

regulate bowel and liver function. It is believed to be a strong

stimulant and has been used to treat constipation and jaundice.

Native Americans: Used it to remove

warts and expel worms from the intestines.

Insecticide: The Menominee tribe

used it on plants and potato crops as an effective insecticide, a use

that is now being studied extensively in laboratories.

Toxic: All parts of the plant are

toxic with the exception of the edible fruit.

Springtime:Mayapple is sometimes

referred to as umbrella plant, because it looks like a closed umbrella

when it first appears each Spring.

Taste: The Mayapple is delicious.

Said to taste like an apple and a passion fruit mixed. Rodents of all

kinds consider it a

favorite food and grab it before humans can enjoy this delicacy. Every

part of the plant is toxic and is not to be taken in large quantities,

if at all.

Legend: If

you pull up a Mandrake root it will scream as it is tron from the

earth. It will scream with the hatred of a thousand evil souls and will

kill the listener immediately.

Wildcrafting tips: Wear ear muffs.

Lol. I've found that when harvesting Mandrake that the roots travel

under ground, then node and send up another shoot. Like running bamboo

in a way. What looks like a little family could very well be a single

plant.

Magic: Mandrax is used when doing binding or hexing spells,

rituals for breaking one's own bad habits, or general spellwork. A

Saturn plant.

Herbalist Rank: Master. This herb should be handled by

professional herbalists only.

Blooms:

Flowers in April and fruits in May.

 

~B

 

P.S. Can you find Cleavers

in the picture????

[Guest guest]

I have one of these in my flower bed just because they are everywhere here and I was fasinated by them when I first moved here. All the locals look forward to Mayapple harvesting time.

 

-

Bryan Shillington

herbal remedies

Monday, April 26, 2010 3:12 PM

{Herbal Remedies} Herb of the week: Mandrake ~B

Mandrax, Another picture I took. I found this one in my backyard. Other common names: American Mandrake, Mayapple, Raccoon Berry, Wild Lemon, Indian Apple, Duck's Foot, Hog Apple, Umbrella Plant, Ground LemonAmerican Mandrake Root: is a strong and powerful purgative that has been used historically and primarily to regulate bowel and liver function. It is believed to be a strong stimulant and has been used to treat constipation and jaundice. Native Americans: Used it to remove warts and expel worms from the intestines.Insecticide: The Menominee tribe used it on plants and potato crops as an effective insecticide, a use that is now being studied extensively in laboratories.Toxic: All parts of the plant are toxic with the exception of the edible fruit. Springtime:Mayapple is sometimes referred to as umbrella plant, because it looks like a closed umbrella when it first appears each Spring.Taste: The Mayapple is delicious. Said to taste like an apple and a passion fruit mixed. Rodents of all kinds consider it a favorite food and grab it before humans can enjoy this delicacy. Every part of the plant is toxic and is not to be taken in large quantities, if at all. Legend: If you pull up a Mandrake root it will scream as it is tron from the earth. It will scream with the hatred of a thousand evil souls and will kill the listener immediately. Wildcrafting tips: Wear ear muffs. Lol. I've found that when harvesting Mandrake that the roots travel under ground, then node and send up another shoot. Like running bamboo in a way. What looks like a little family could very well be a single plant. Magic: Mandrax is used when doing binding or hexing spells, rituals for breaking one's own bad habits, or general spellwork. A Saturn plant.Herbalist Rank: Master. This herb should be handled by professional herbalists only.Blooms: Flowers in April and fruits in May. ~BP.S. Can you find Cleavers in the picture????