Mandrake
Mandrake

Mandragora officinarum

The plant is linked to numerous beliefs.

Mandrake (scientifically known as Mandragora officinarum L, 1753) is a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is commonly found in the Mediterranean region, including Crete.

Mandrake leaves are large, elongated, and arranged in rosettes. Blue-violet flowers with distinct ribs resembling veins sprout from the centre of the rosette. The plant's small yellow fruits, shaped like tiny apples, prompted Dioscorides to call it ‘antimilon’.

The large fleshy root of the mandrake has a humanoid shape. This characteristic, combined with its well-known medicinal properties, is the reason why the plant is associated with many beliefs.

It thrives in stony locations, fallow fields, and disturbed soils, and on the island, you can observe it blooming from November to early April.

Kalliopi Borboudaki, Chemical Engineer MSc, creator of the website https://butterfliesofcrete.com.