Mandrake, in Latin Mandragora.
'Tis Male and Female. It grows spontaneously in hot Coun∣tries, as Spain and Italy, and the like, in Woods, and shady Places. Man∣drakes are reckon'd a∣mongst Narcotick Medi∣cines. Some have que∣stion'd whether the Apple of it were wholesom, or no. But Faber Lynceus, Botanick Professor at Rome. a very learned Man, and of good Reputation, says, that both the Pulp and the Seed may be safely eaten. Now, seeing the Apples of the Mandrake are fit to be eaten, and smell well, why should we seek for any o∣ther Interpretation for the Hebrew Word Dudaim, which Reuben brought to his Mother Leah? And see∣ing it was the Opinion of the Ancients, that the Seeds of the Mandrakes purged the Womb, 'tis very pro∣bable that Rachel, knowing this Virtue of them, desir'd the Mandrakes; that her Womb being purg'd, she might be render'd capable to conceive, and to bear Children, as well as her Sister Leah, and her Maid Zilpha. The Bark of the Root, which is brought to us from abroad, especially from Italy, is Narcotick; but it is seldom used in∣wardly. 'Tis outwardly used for Redness and Pains of the Eyes, for an Erisipe∣las, hard Tumors, and the King's-Evil.