XANDB AGORA.     This  name,  derived

from  two  Greek  words  iraplyUig  hjartfnl  to

estUe,  is  applied  to  a  genus  of  SokmacecB

' '  tr  Atnpactm.    The  species  are  natives  of


Southern  Europe  and  the  East,  and  liar<
very  short  stems,  with  a  thick  fleshy  of  tei
fortced  root,  from  the  summit  of  which  the
entire  ovate  lance-shaped  leaves  appear  t<
proceed  In  compact  tufts.  The  flower-stalki
spring  from  among  the  leaves,  and  bear  a
solitary  flower  with  a  top-shaped  calyx,  t
bell-shaped  corolla,  to  the  base  of  whlc*
are  attached  five  stamens,  whose  filaments
are  dilated  above  their  base.  The  fruit  h
fleshy,  one-celled,  from  the  breaking  up  ol
the  partition  between  the  two  original  cells
of  the  ovary,  and  supported  by  the  slightly
enlarged  and  persistent  calyx.
The  Mandrakes,  like  their  near  ally  Bel-
ladonnot  have  poisonous  properties.  They
act  as  emetics,  purgatives,  and  narcotics,
and  would  seem  to  have  been  much  used
as  sedatives  in  olden  times,  though  now
disused.  Shakspeare  is  supposed  to  allude
to  this  plant  when  he  makes  Banquo,  In
Macbeth,  say :  *  Or  have  we  eaten  of  the  In-
sane root  that  takes  the  reason  prisoner  ? '
And  alBO  In  Antony  and  Cleopatra :  'Give
rae  to  drink  Mandragora.'  Dr.  Silvester
has  shown  that  Mandrake  was  employed  in
olden  times  as  an  anesthetic,  in  the  same
way  that  chlorctform  now  is.
