======Mandrake======
A Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a magical plant with a root that looks like a small, ugly human. Its cry can be fatal, but once mature, it forms the essential ingredient in the [[Mandrake Restorative Draught]], a powerful antidote used to revive those who have been [[Petrification|petrified]].
=====Plant Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Magical Plant]]
  * **Primary Property:** Restorative
  * **Notable Feature:** A fatal or stupefying cry
  * **Known Cultivators:** [[Professor Sprout]], [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
=====Description and Growth Cycle=====
The [[Mandrake]] has a tufty, purplish-green top that looks quite ordinary. Its defining feature is its root, which resembles a small, lumpy, and rather ugly human baby. The plant progresses through a distinct life cycle that mimics human development.
  - **Seedling/Infant:** In its earliest stage, the [[Mandrake]] root is like an infant. It is at this stage that its cry is most dangerous; hearing it without protection is fatal. Students handling them in [[Herbology]] must wear [[earmuffs]].
  - **Adolescent:** As the [[Mandrake]]s mature, they become more active and develop personalities. [[Professor Sprout]] described them as becoming moody and secretive, and even noted they would throw parties. At this stage, their cry is no longer fatal but will knock a person unconscious for several hours.
  - **Mature:** The final stage of maturity is reached when the [[Mandrake]]s begin trying to move into each other's pots. At this point, they are ready to be harvested for use in [[Potion]]-making.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The [[Mandrake]] possesses powerful and dangerous magical properties, centered around its restorative essence and its cry.
  * **[[Mandrake Restorative Draught]]:** The most important use of a mature [[Mandrake]] is as the key ingredient in the [[Mandrake Restorative Draught]]. This potent [[Potion]] is the only known cure for reversing certain powerful dark curses and [[Transfiguration]], including the [[Petrification]] caused by the gaze of a [[Basilisk]].
  * **The Mandrake Cry:** The plant's cry is its primary defense mechanism. The effect of the cry depends on the plant's maturity:
    * **Infant Cry:** Fatal to anyone who hears it unprotected.
    * **Mature Cry:** Causes anyone who hears it unprotected to fall into a deep unconsciousness for several hours.
  * **Weaponization:** As demonstrated during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], mature [[Mandrake]]s can be used as makeshift magical weapons. When thrown, their stupefying cries can effectively incapacitate multiple enemies at once.
=====Role in the Story=====
  * **//Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets//:** [[Mandrake]]s are central to the plot. After the [[Basilisk]] begins petrifying students and other residents of [[Hogwarts]], including [[Mrs Norris]], [[Colin Creevey]], [[Justin Finch-Fletchley]], [[Nearly Headless Nick]], [[Penelope Clearwater]], and [[Hermione Granger]], [[Professor Sprout]] is tasked with nurturing a new crop of [[Mandrake]]s to maturity. The time required for the plants to grow creates sustained tension throughout the school year, as the victims cannot be revived until the [[Mandrake Restorative Draught]] can be brewed.
  * **//Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows//:** During the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], [[Neville Longbottom]] and [[Professor Sprout]] lead a group of students in defending the castle by lobbing mature [[Mandrake]]s over the battlements at the advancing [[Death Eater]]s. This creative use of [[Herbology]] showcases how seemingly academic knowledge can be turned into an effective defensive measure.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
The magical [[Mandrake]] of the wizarding world is heavily inspired by real-world folklore surrounding the mandrake plant (//Mandragora officinarum//). For centuries, legends claimed the root had a human shape and would let out a bloodcurdling scream when unearthed, killing anyone who heard it.
In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets//, the infant [[Mandrake]]s are shown as highly animated creatures that wriggle, squirm, and cry piercingly when [[Harry Potter]] and his classmates repot them in [[Professor Sprout]]'s [[Herbology]] class. (film)