MANDRAKES - they are REAL and grown in Oxford!

We joined Chris Thorogood from the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum and did a re-enactment of an ancient technique to safely harvest a shrieking mandrake....with a dog!
For more fascinating science from the University of Oxford visit: www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk

[@silentblackhole]

The University of Oxford needs to upgrade their recording equipment.

[@adailydaughter6196]

🤔.....you mean for the sound?

[@mylesbell2398]

I legit thought it was my wifi acting up but then I saw the available resolutions and saw 360p was the maximum option

[@MG42gaming]

It was only for 2018 why is it so bad

[@savedbygrace.098]

I am here because I was reading the old testament when Rachel ( the wife of Jacob) asked mandrakes from her sister ( the other wife of Jacob)

[@giftprinters8109]

me too

[@user-oe9fx4gt8y]

Yes, I'm not into witchcraft !

[@CHRISTWORSHIPCENTER89]

Yes me to

[@tomiju]

When I searched this plant in google, I saw many plants with human figures. That makes me here see the real form of the plant.

[@carneytho]

Im here because Im reading GENESIS im in chapter 30 now

[@titusotieno9698]

Carnesia Thomas same here 😅

[@bethanyprewitt6221]

I'm in Song of Solomon 7. 😅

[@julieb.7166]

Carnesia Thomas Same here 👍🏻

[@infinitestamina6147]

Me too

[@nancypeery1273]

Me too.

[@tskedition]

Well i waited 15 minutes for him to dig it up...

[@Sandhu-ve8gr]

And it didn't scream or cry 😠😡

[@Fur4dayz]

The trumpet made up for some of it 😂

[@TuberoseKisser]

Thank you for this video, it's incredibly difficult to find any information on these plants.

[@gavindonnelly331]

Tremendous. Thank you, Chris, for this very informative video. We have a presentation on the Mandrake tomorrow morning, and this was very helpful. Cheers mate! -Gav & Rob

[@tjbyers5517]

Thanks so much for your family to be there for you and your family have a very merry Christmas

[@mirandaandrea8215]

I’m disappointed the big one wasn’t dug up and u didn’t show us the root close up!

[@goodtroublemaker143]

Don’t forget your earplugs

[@NeuroSerpens]

For the ones who want it: The damn harvesting finally happens at 14:05 ... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[@7evenb]

Thank you

[@nerdreader3433]

Ty hahaa

[@reliomese2873]

Thank you

[@lloyddonnelly607]

The real MVP

[@Rozlinda01]

Thanks 😂

[@maggiemays6974]

where’s the screaming

[@malaija1149]

right ? i thought they screamed as they were dug up ..

[@artistdigital]

You sadist

[@TucsonKing1]

The book of Genesis brought me here! Genesis 30:14

[@kimheadley3455]

TucsonKing Me too!

[@AM-dn4lk]

Me three

[@elbienadiedericks1644]

M4

[@mukatayoba]

Me too

[@samson6058]

Me 6

[@4ESOUL]

I believe he's the real-life Harry explaining his magic plant masquerading as a science thing.

[@renebee287]

I was literally just wondering if I was the only one who noticed that😂🤣!!

[@ShirleiBarnes]

😂

[@audreyhicks6169]

I couldn't stop thinking the same thing 🤣🤣

[@truefaith4099]

It was actually first mentioned in the bible in Genesis 30.14.

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

@truefaith4099 : In the original Hebrew text the word for "mandrakes" is "DUDAIM".

[@ashishrawal8947]

I thought Mandrakes were just at Hogwarts

[@camocat2962]

Sameee I looked them up just just fun and I was like wow they are real.

[@adrianoglibic594]

ashish rawal same🤣

[@rochelimit55555]

yes they are. You didn't notice the background, that is Hogwarts's yard near the greenhouse.

[@CrystalMouse1]

ashish rawal the witchcraft in the series is based on real craft used for centuries. I use it in my own craft. Super cool 😎

[@carlosss4037]

Mandrake is used to turn those to be petrified to there original state, it's also quite dangerous the mandrakes Christ is faithful to anyone who hears it

[@Fluffycakez5]

What if once we die... we become a mandrake which is why they’re humanoid

[@thinginground5179]

@Irene Belserion who cares its awesome

[@carliiuxiiz]

Maybe people who die in pain 🤔 and maybe that's why it's said that the plant kills and/or screams 🤔

[@KonanHachisan]

😂that would be weird

[@sparkie119]

"Mandrake Root" Deep Purple

[@rogerkreil3314]

Plants according to what scientists discovered recently really do shriek in pain.

[@AmericanIdiot7659]

Only in ultrasonic sound which we cannot hear.

[@mushroomhead3619]

BFG was on to something

[@jonathanoxlade4252]

Vegans still can't deny that tho a scream is still a scream even if you can't hear it

[@elizabethl6987]

@@jonathanoxlade4252 Vegans aren’t the only ones who eat plants, humans need plants for life, and the animals in slaughterhouses shriek far louder and audibly than any mandrake, or other plant.

[@heartcore5608]

Mandrake plants are also in the BIBLE in Genesis 30;13-16😁😊

[@auggirangel8829]

You did a remarkable job with this video

[@DadsWatchingYouTube]

Harry Potter literally growing mandrakes.

[@justyourlocalwitchhunter9184]

wait what those are mandrake, that thing is literaly growing in my backyard

[@PinkSoldier2009]

They’re mentioned in the Bible in the Old Testament but it doesn’t say anything about Christ drinking wine while he was on the cross!

[@kevinbeckenham3872]

Thank you for this enlightening documentary

[@laurencresap603]

I've learned a lot about mandrakes in this video. 😂

[@yourdad4195]

Harry Potter exists as well 🤭

[@interlaxbg]

The English name of the plant derives from Latin mandragora, related to the French main-de-gloire (hand of glory)

[@stellamoline838]

I heard that the real plant cries when someone remove from the earth.?

[@OxfordSparks]

Only in stories :P

[@valemerine3676]

Thank you very much! So brave and you are very charming. Well done !

[@tallterrilaw8646]

No I'm aware of it from the book of Genesis not Harry Potter!

[@flearhcp]

YESS!! Rachel was it?

[@aohemeng]

Yes, reading Genesis 30 is what brought me here.

[@tallterrilaw8646]

Yes Rachel wanted Leah's son's (Reuben's) mandrakes.

[@marcuschung2]

Do you have a website where i could contact you ?

[@tammyestevens5154]

@@aohemeng Me too! God Bless!

[@ShirleiBarnes]

Oh my goodness, this fascinating, it made me laugh 😂and also learned cool facts! Thank you 😊

[@tomsavannah1886]

Entertaining and scientifically thorough as well. Good job. Across the pond in America we have an interesting and chemically similar plant known as Jimsonweed which is high in scopolomine and has a provenance of human use and culture dating to ancient times. I imagine you are already familiar with the plant and I think it would make for another great video like this one

[@valerieann8007]

@Tom Savannah. Where does Jimsonweed grow in the U.S.? Does it grow anywhere in New York?

[@darescot]

Thanks for your insightful input Tom Savannah. I had to study mandrake from a theological perspective due to its mention in the Bible about the interest of Rachel (Jacob's wife) who was baren and solicited Leah to buy it from her son in exchange for time with husband. Apparently, the use case for her was either as an aphrodisiac (for husband) or fertility booster (for herself). Either way, it is such an interesting plant!

[@tomsavannah1886]

@@darescot that was my interest as well

[@tomsavannah1886]

@@valerieann8007 yes, I imagine it does grow in New York because it definitely does grow here in New Jersey (where I'm at). It grows All over North America and I've personally seen it in Sonora Mexico. Or you can buy the seeds online and grow the plant yourself.

[@tiger1044]

Jimsonweed is Datura stramonium. A Nightshade and deleriant. Not a hallucinogen. It's in the Solanaceae family. Beautiful flowers. I grow them.

[@tothosethatwander]

Pans labyrinth brought me here.

[@doodidoodi7426]

That was a scary movie 😶

[@timelessmillennial1851]

tothosethatwander it’s funny because pans labyrinth brought me here too and I’ve always loved that movie did you know hitler had a mandrake? Also the movie Harry Potter had a mandrake too.. maybe it’s all true maybe the universe brought us here..

[@Sandwich13455]

I heard it turned Syd barret from pink Floyd mad

[@starstruckt]

is there an english version of that movie

[@Oi325]

@@Sandwich13455 how'd that story go?

[@CanalDoHolly]

it didn't scream or cry 😠😡

[@michaeljewell726]

Excellent presentation. Thanks.

[@eugene1317]

He said “effects” like he doesn’t know that you will go into a full state of delirium from it 😳

[@seikibrian8641]

That depends on the age of the plant, the method of administration, the dose, etc. (There are also different species called "Mandrake": Mediterranean mandrake is a member of the genus Mandragora, and English mandrake is Bryonia alba.)

[@indigoelegance]

Oh fuck I just ate like a mouthful of root😬

[@tiger1044]

@@seikibrian8641White Bryony Root, isn't Mandrake officinarum, Autumnalis, or Turkmenistan. Don't be fooled.

[@seikibrian8641]

@@tiger1044 Read again what I wrote, and pay attention to what I actually said.

[@tiger1044]

@@seikibrian8641 Bryonia alba isn't a member of the Solanaceae family. They aren't Nightshades. All true Mandrakes are in the Solanaceae family. I couldn't listen to your folklore stories, as I know them all. I grow Mandrakes. I make salves from them. I read the transcript of what you said in your video.

[@incorectulpolitic]

Mandrake is good for the bowels and liver, right?

[@Finding457]

I’m so grateful that you didn’t endanger Beau’s soul

[@GunnerGibbons]

@ around 1:50 he starts to give aka names but clearly for confused with Datura stramonium because all those names are given to D.Stramoniun not Mandragora (So frustrating when videos designed to be informative have not been checked before release)

[@tiger1044]

Yes, he gives wrong genus of about English Mandrakes as Bryonia alba. Any true Mandrake is a member of the Solanaceae Family, a Nightshade. I pointed this out. He told me to pay attention to what he said. I read the transcript. I couldn't listen to him blathering on about folklore. I grow these plants, and make salves from them. Daturas too.

[@nelliesfarm8473]

​@@tiger1044What do you use the salves for ? I grew a beautiful datura plant, myself

[@gladyswilson8908]

Thanks for letting me know what are Mandrakes. I am reading Genesis 30

[@suetruscott]

Are you still with us? Lol. i do hope so! I enjoyed this video very much

[@shawntiharris5017]

GENESIS ch 30 brought me here😊 SEEKING ✝️

[@waynieee671]

Okay! I'm gonna turn myself as a animagus!

[@furlonggg1]

excellent video, thanks for the info!

[@B3burner]

And all these years, I thought it was a Deep Purple song.

[@fragranceofsound]

Just making sure our Moderator is still alive

[@paulinezitolina8999]

wooow 😮, nature is amazing, thank you for the video.

[@OxfordSparks]

Thank you! We are glad that you enjoyed the video 🙂

[@hiimwaynko-4987]

I’m here to research about the psychedelic properties of mandrake

[@kadinmay]

It’s not psychedelic. Nor are its relatives. It’s a deliriant and a poison. Hallucinations are believed to be ENTIRELY REAL by those who overdose- and hallucination = overdose. Discomfort and ill effects = overdose. You lose complete control over your actions and your state of mind and concept of reality. It could cause convictions, blindness, and a hundred ugly deaths. It can be pleasant in low doses but once you get uncomfortable, it only gets worse. Once you take too much, even if someone can convince or restrain you into a hospital, your chances of living depend entirely on how much you took, when and your method of taking it.

[@Djanbari]

Dont starve anyone

[@NeuroSerpens]

Hahaha. Hell yes!

[@gnome2812]

Yes brother

[@hara3435]

walked my field in cyprus last week a lot of mandrake. Here to learn ❤

[@irenerouse3163]

Very entertaining. Thanks you.😀

[@seth6478]

ok, just get me out of this question, i'm going nuts... does a Mandrake really screams or not? i can't find any evidence online, someone please explain haha

[@Khampong_yumlam]

So basically they don’t scream lol

[@hilongtalilong9409]

THAT PLANT IS ACTUALLY USED BY WOMEN IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS IN THE BIBLE.. that plant helped women to conceive 😊😁

[@janetcochran6679]

Great the furbaby dog wasn't harmed!

[@Coming_Into_Truth]

I was like, your sacrificing a poor innocent dog for this video????

[@lizvecitaful]

You are one good looking fella😍 Thank you for the information. I heard of the Mandragora plant in Pan's Labyrinth by Benicio.

[@Riplee]

Yea, I remember that scene! That's how you make psychological horror, Benicio was masterful about it..

[@lisettelachat1870]

Harry potter brought me here I really want to visit the gardens now !

[@yonnifauto7791]

lisette la chat ATOU KA

[@Paul-qo1hb]

Deep Purple song "Mandrake Root"

[@nancyfaiella6376]

Why are we looking at an old mandrake?

[@katart_designs]

Will they scream as in Hogwards

[@shreyamathur4314]

Real life Neville Longbottom. Our Herbology professor!! :)

[@munglianzaw8693]

He looks like a crossover between harry and Neville XD

[@davidkennedy6022]

Dragons taught humans to harness their “Qi” , mandragora could it be a useful meditation aid ?

[@adailydaughter6196]

An aphrodisiac.... That's why Leah was digging it up to try to make her husband amorous towards her Genesis. 30:14-16 The Bible 😊

[@adailydaughter6196]

... Or to "beautiful her eyes as the Bible said she was" tender eyed" indicating that wasn't attractive.

[@virginialopez1655]

Rachel dies after giving birth to Benjamin. She tries mandrakes maybe she took too much? She only had two sons with Jacob. Leah wasn’t loved so God opened her womb to have several children with Jacob. Bible 30:14,15

[@aneitalt]

It's neat learning about mandrakes after learning about them from "Misao".

[@CEEMYSTRY]

No Shrill- I feel gipped

[@farleyfuentebella6563]

Why didn't it scream at him and make him petrified?

[@Germatti13489]

Nice video. ❤️ from West Virginia/US

[@magic1wizard]

It really seems crazy these days, but people really did have such a different way of thinking before the current scientific method.

[@ichangedmyname4235]

I was just waiting for him to pull out the mandrake the whole vid..

[@Geo796H]

Can you buy mandrake seeds?

[@artjardin3671]

I am Moroccan I have a mandrake plant I have roots and fruits and grain to sell

[@paedrufernando2351]

You are mandrake the magician..

[@Sandwich13455]

It grows in soggy old England free!

[@hectorrodriquez3182]

Is it ginseng

[@jeankutzer1556]

Do you have white and black mandrake or just black ( purple)?

[@jedBSME]

Even the guy looks like Harry.

[@MindbodyMedic]

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn attributed the mandrake root with curing his testicular cancer.

[@NattyCakes0308]

the audio is on point 🤌

[@fab8883]

Plant identifier ad brings me here

[@Simipourfangirl]

I'm only here because of a short called "the mandrake"

[@rosepetal5253]

The noise at 10.5 minutes in made me think you woke 🤣 it up.

[@ritzz4081]

Genesis 30:14-16

[@pureposh]

I was very disappointed that I didn’t get to hear what this plant sounds like as it’s being pulled in this video! A horn?!? Really?!?! All the stupid videos on KZbin about Harry Potter stuff. I just want to hear how this plant naturally screams 🙄 not 1 video! Absolutely Unbelievable 😒 ugh!

[@mandrakemandragore2078]

no , mandrake never screams...

[@Felipe-cr8ki]

So eu q fiquei esperando ele arrancar aquela mandragora?!👌😂

[@YesWilson]

Do they scream when uprooted?

[@Alexi0s]

I knew mandrakes were real XD just not the magic kind i knew

[@NoName-ng3up]

Good job! Really nice video

[@amazighsefaw9757]

It's flowers in my profile picture . I have toooooo much in my farm

[@quietbelle8662]

Wow, what do you grow them for? Do you use them for anything?

[@caseyflowers1325]

Can I purchase one

[@TheBasavalinga]

Where do I buy these plants

[@Travel-With-Arghya]

Mandrakes can really exist but do they really cry?

[@mandrakemandragore2078]

Yes, 4 species of mandrakes exist but none of them cry!

[@pukkapadilla4494]

It's written abt in the Scripture's

[@nancyfifer3160]

What is mandrake

[@usmc2309]

All of you need help. Mandrakes are found in the Holy Bible. Nothing evil is a concern of any mandrakes. The book of Genesis Chapter 30:14 " And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes". People are so easy to believe in folktales. And, the guy in the video actually wore earphones to protect his ears. People believe in anything. You better study your Holy Bible for the right teaching.

[@valerieann8007]

@usmc usmc. The passage you quoted doesn't mean anything unless you know everything there is, about Rachel. So make a summary or quote everything about Rachel and translate it to current day, understandable English, and explain the educational background that gave which translator an expert ability to translate Jesus's language, Amheric, into Latin, and then same for translating Latin into Old English, and then same for translating Old English into modern English, please. Who is Rachel? What's her last (sir) name? I think we have a bunch of candidates for PhDs in botany on this page. Please tell us how YOU got to this page. Please explain what brings you here. Otherwise, what you wrote is unintelligible, like something TROLLS write to try to confuse people's intent to learn about a subject, Mandrakes in this instance. ☺

[@thatwasfun6888]

@@valerieann8007 Rachel and Leah were sisters. Last names are a more modern form of identification. So there was no "last name ". They would have both been Rachel and Leah daughters of Laban. And then Rachel and Leah wives of Jacob. Your comment shows an immaturity in intelligence. Because the Bible has already been translated, as most people know and we know exactly who Rachel was, there is no confusion or need to put it all in a comment.

[@davideglinton4641]

i am now going to grow one now

[@elijotwaldgeist5666]

Very poisonous, watch out ✨

[@purpleskies6600]

really let down... thought you were going to do the whole thing

[@lightworker4139]

Is that Dandelion? Its not Mandrake plant for sure.

[@suzesiviter6083]

Ok, but I want to know why our ancestors believed it screamed?

[@spacewhale8279]

Suzy Siviter Apparently they scream when you pull them out.

[@suzesiviter6083]

@@spacewhale8279 Aye an the Haggis is a real creature).

[@solargesture]

I've read that if the air is dry and the root has a particular amount of moisture it whistles which they romanticized as shrieks

[@suzesiviter6083]

@@solargesture You should work for Wiki, that's the only good explanation I have seen, thanks.

[@solargesture]

@@suzesiviter6083 know the feeling, glad to be of help, Suzy :)

[@dragonnestone1016]

I would like to buy mandrake plants but I haven't seen it here in Philippines.

[@beyondbeautifulwithmia7589]

🧙🏽‍♀️ only those with the witch sight can see and hear the mandrakes sing 🧝🏾‍♀️ they sound like birds in real life lol 😂🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@jarrodnanson3573]

So where's the ear protection for the dog.

[@coimindeburka7716]

A real-life Harry!😘

[@ns7353]

apparently you know who dug one of these up to start his journey, and Im not talking about Voldemort...

[@jessicamessica2271]

no screaming...im shocked lol

[@Sandwich13455]

Is this the root that drove Syd barret mad?

[@beaupapin9305]

Yes

[@francvanilla16]

I’m a fan of mythical things and never watched Harry potter

[@gloriaadjahouto4915]

Hello my name IS Gloria and I live in Bénin so I just want to Ask how Can i have the mandrakes

[@MaeManuel1]

Please don’t pull a mandrake out! It’s not just annoying, but it’s also very creepy because when you try to pull out a mandrake plant, it screams... literally!

[@marlenorozco3176]

It screams fr that's so weird 🤔😂😂

[@Oi325]

How does it scream?

[@scuppo]

Lies