European regional assessment: Endangered (EN)
EU 27 regional assessment: Regionally Extinct (RE)

Mandragora officinarum is a Mediterranean endemic that has a European presence in Italy, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is extinct in Italy. In Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina it is known from four sites and has an extent of occurrence of less than 5,000 km². The Croatian population is extremely small and limited and declining, the species is listed as Critically Endangered on the national red list. There is no population or threat information for Bosnia and Herzegovina available, but the plant is assessed as Vulnerable on the national red list. In Croatia, the main threats are changes in agriculture, habitat loss and collection for medicinal purposes. The species is therefore assessed as Endangered at European level.

In the EU 27 member states, the species was only known from Italy where it is extinct now.

This plant is a Mediterranean endemic present in Italy, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, extending its range into Turkey and the Levant. It is extinct in Italy.
In Croatia, it is only found in the hills of Konavle southeast of Dubrovnik. In Herzegovina, it occurs at Donja Glavska at c. 490 m asl. and Vodena jama iznad Duži (Trebinje) at ca. 280 m altitude. Its extent of occurrence is probably around 5,000 km².

The Croatian population is extremely small and limited and probably declining (Flora Croatica Database 2004-2010, Nikolić and Topić 2005). It is classed as a Vulnerable species in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Šilić 1996).

This perennial plant is found in ruderal habitats at the borders of arable land, in rocky and sunny places, flooded meadows. It grows in Bidention tripartitae communities (Flora Croatica Database 2004-2010).
In Herzegovina, it grows in the vegetation of carst forests and scrubs, in vegetation of the order Quercetalia pubescentis, especially in the association Carpinetum orientalis illyricum and in different degradation stages of this association.
Sometimes this plant can be found in gardens.

In Croatia, the main threats are changes in agriculture, habitat loss and collection for medicinal purposes (Nikolić and Topić 2005).

Mandragora officinarum has been used in traditional medicine and is a mythical plant. The root contains hyoscine which is a powerful alkaloid that can cause hallucinations, delirium and even coma. Its use as surgical anaesthetic has been recorded by the Greek around AD 60 and in pre-Roman times. This ability might have led to association of the species with magic and witchcraft, especially regarding fertility and people were wearing them as good luck charms. The myth led to plants being highly thought after which created a new myth of the root being inhabited by a demon that would kill anyone who attempted to uproot it (Carter 2003).

Mandragora officinarum is listed on Annex IV of the Habitats Directive and under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). In Croatia, it is listed as Critically Endangered (Nikolić and Topić 2005). It is classed as a Vulnerable species in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Šilić 1996).