Main Entry: man·drake

Pronunciation: \ˈman-ˌdrāk\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, probably alteration of mandragora

Date: 14th century

1 a : a Mediterranean herb (Mandragora officinarum) of the nightshade family with large ovate leaves, greenish-yellow or purple flowers, and a large usually forked root resembling a human in form and formerly credited with magical properties b : the root of a mandrake formerly used especially to promote conception, as a cathartic, or as a narcotic and soporific
2 : mayapple

[mandrake illustration]