The Mandrake, common European countries, is shaped like a parsnip with wrinkled roots in the shape of a being. Above ground, it grows from between five centimeters to forty centimeters, and resembles tobacco plants. The Mandrake grows well around ground where men have been hung, for reasons not deemed appropriate for discussion in a Herbology Classroom. The Mandrake causes hallucinations, comas, and puts people into dreamlike states. It is used in sleeping potions, love potions, and also in a potion to revive a petrified person.

Uprooted mandrakes have the ability to cause death with their screams. This is known to be a defense mechanism to prevent the depletion of their plant species. As soon as the mandrake has caused the death of one being, its screams cease. The expectation is that it will have been dropped and is able to re-root itself in the ground. It is unknown why the mandrake is only able to scream until it causes its first and only fatality.

Herbologists during the medieval era had some rather inhumane ways of dealing with mandragora. (In fact, ethics remain a contemporary issue to Herbologists). In the old days, to uproot a mandragora, one would dig out around the roots to the point that there would be enough room to tie a dog to the root with about a yard of rope. The master would then walk away, and loyally the dog would follow, pulling up the plant. The Mandrake would scream, killing the dog. After the death of the dog, the mandrake would scream no more.

There is now, thankfully, a new method to uproot fully grown mandrakes which do not involve death. Recently (1954) Potioneer Amaradus Spencer discovered a potion which would prevent the need for a death to cease a mandragora's screams. Wear ear muffs when uprooting, and as soon as the plant is out of the dirt submerse it in an Aquatandisu potion. The plant will thrash for several seconds, and then it will cease all movement. At this time the plant is ready for harvesting and will not scream. (Please note that you cannot replant after submersion).

Basic re-potting of a Mandrake: To re-pot a mandrake, wear ear muffs and dragon-hide gloves, and use medium to heavy soil. The concentration of water should be equal to 3/4th s of the plants approximate weight.

FIRST AID

If a person slips into a coma from contact with a mandrake, wash the spot of contact and immediately send for a trained healer to administer a tandisu injection.

There is no reversal to death by the Mandrake's scream.