Mandrakes
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Song 7:14; Gen 30:14-16) (in Hebrew, dudaim). It is not known precisely what plant is meant here. What is commonly called the “May-apple” is also often called the mandrake — a plant that grows low, like lettuce, with broad, dark-green leaves, and bearing fruit somewhat resembling small lemons. The plant known by this name is still found today in the East; its fruits ripen from May to June and are about the size of a small apple, of a reddish-yellow color, with a very pleasant fragrance. The fruit is very pleasant to the taste, but sometimes has an intoxicating or stimulating effect. Reuben found ripe mandrakes already in