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floramelitensis — Mandrake
Published: 2010-10-23 16:27:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 532; Favourites: 23; Downloads: 0
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Description
Photo: Jeffrey SciberrasLocation: Favignana
Scientific name: Mandrago autumnalis
Occurrence on Favignana: slightly scarce, frequent in some areas on the island.
Habitat: Coastal disturbed ground
other info: a very short stemmed shiny perennial with large oblong leaves forming a rosette. flowers can be either lilac or purple. produces a fruit similar to a yellow tomato. Medicinal species, formerly used to relief pain. It was said that when this plant is uprooted, it starts to shriek! Found mostly throughout the Mediterranean, except for Albania, south France, Balearic islands, Malta and few isolated small archipelagos.
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Comments: 6
Those mandrake plants really look strange (but in a beautiful way), especially when in fruit, as well.
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They seem to be unique
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Yes, and a strange kind of superstition is related to the mandrake, here in our region. In yours as well, Jeff?
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No, in Malta we don't have mandrakes therefore we don't have superstitions about them. though I heard about it somewhere, perhaps on documentary or in a cartoon, but also I read about it when I was identifying the plant. this shot was taken from the Aegadian island of Favignana, west of Sicily.
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It was mentioned in the Harry Potter books, that they screamed and that the roots were magical.
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