This seed kit contains the seeds of the Mediterranean mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), which flowers in springtime and the autumn mandrake (Mandragora autumnalis), which flowers in autumn. In botanical terms both varieties belong to the common mandrakes, which is the type species of the plant genus mandragora, which in turn belongs to the nightshades (Solanaceae). Both mandrakes are toxic and mainly differentiate themselves by their flowering periods and the colour of their flowers. Autumn mandrakes are said to germinate easier but both varieties share the unusual appearance of their roots, which alludes to the shape of a human figure and is the reason why they gained the reputation to hold magical powers. It appears as if mandrakes have fascinated mankind already for centuries, with early references made to the plants found already in the bible in the old testament. In addition to this, drawings of mandrakes have also been found in the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamen in Egypt, allowing for the conclusion that they were highly regarded already back then. Mandrakes are commonly at home in the entire Mediterranean, in central Asia and even in the Himalayas.
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