Mandrake

(Autumn mandrake) A fascinating stemless plant with a subterranean mass of thick roots 3-4 feet deep. Often confused with American mandrake or mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), it is completely different, sharing only the moniker and vaguely similar fleshy yellow-orange edible fruits. Its branched roots uncannily resemble the human form with a head, arms and legs, adding to its mystique as a tool of magic for sorcerers and witches. In ancient times, the roots were used as an anesthetic and to treat melancholy, but their strong emetic and purgative properties make the roots quite poisonous. The seeds germinate nicely, coming up in about 14 days. Mandrake is hardy in USDA zones 6-8, and can be grown in deep planters where it is not hardy. It contents itself with any deep well-drained soil and full or partial sun exposure.