这种麻醉性的古老植物起源于欧洲，最早在14世纪被称为mondrake，也有mandragge的说法。这个词源自中世纪拉丁语mandragora，再往前追溯则是拉丁语mandragoras，而更早则是希腊语mandragoras。它的词源可能来自某个非印欧语系的词。在古英语和中英语中，这个词以拉丁形式出现；民间传说将第二个部分与dragoun（龙）联系在一起，并用本土词drake替代，尽管这样做可能并没有太多实际意义。人们认为它的叉状根部像人形，并且据说在被拔出土壤时会发出尖叫声。这种植物一直被视为春药。
Meanwhile it should not be forgotten that there was one magical possession, an idol of domestic superstition in mediaeval German households, which is said to have passed at the father's death to the youngest son upon condition that he performed certain heathenish rites in relation to the father's funeral. The "mandrake," a plant with broad leaves and bright yellow flowers and with a root which grew in a semi-human form, was found beneath the public gallows and was dragged from the ground and carried home with many extraordinary ceremonies. When secured it became a familiar spirit, speaking in oracles if properly consulted and bringing good luck to the household in which it was enshrined. [Charles Elton, "Origins of English History," 1882]
同时，也不能忘记在中世纪德国家庭中，有一种被称为“曼德拉草”的魔法物品。这是一种家庭迷信的偶像，传说在父亲去世后，它会传给最小的儿子，前提是他必须在父亲的葬礼上进行某些异教仪式。这种“曼德拉草”是一种叶子宽大、鲜黄色花朵的植物，其根部生长得像半人形，通常在公共绞刑架下被发现。人们会用各种奇特的仪式将它从土中拔出，带回家中。一旦得到，它就会成为家中的守护灵，如果正确咨询，它会通过神谕说话，并为居住在其中的家庭带来好运。[查尔斯·埃尔顿，《英语历史的起源》，1882年]
