In article , Druss
writes
Excellent, well mine was a very nice dark green leaf, with very slightly
crinkled edges, but it was also labelled up as the Officionalis, (that's
really quite a silly name tho isn't it. Does it really translate as "The
Official Mandrake", and if so are the EU going to be clamping down on the
Mandragora Conterfeitus ?),
No - 'officianalis' means used in medicine.
WT Stearn says the derivation is officina, originally a shop, later a
monastic herb room and later still a pharmacy.
--
Kay Easton
Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm