A closer look
Medieval herbalists believed that the mandrake root contained a powerful magical spirit because the plant occasionally grew into a shape vaguely resembling a screaming naked human. According to mystical lore, pulling the plant from the dirt would cause it to emit an ear-piercing shriek that was instantly fatal to anyone who heard it, which was a very convenient rumor to spread if you wanted to maintain a monopoly on selling it. Witches supposedly used dogs tied to the plant to do the actual pulling while they stood far away with wax in their ears. The fact that grown adults were absolutely terrified of a lumpy potato cousin because it looked a little bit like a tiny man is exactly why the Dark Ages earned their name
