Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), wood engravings, published in 1893 - stock illustration

The Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum, or Mandragora officinalis) was formerly used as an aphrodisiac, narcotic and analgesic, partly as a hallucinogenic drug, but also served as a magic root. Because mandrakes contain deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids and the shape of their roots often resembles human figures, they have been associated with a variety of superstitious practices throughout history. Wood engravings, published in 1893.