9. The Alchemical Mandrake Root (Mandragora officinarum)
Medieval and Renaissance woodcut herbals frequently depicted the anthropomorphic root of the Mandrake, surrounded by broad, crinkled leaves and modest purple star flowers. An aged, monochrome woodcut or a sepia-toned lithograph of Mandragora injects historical eccentricity and occult intrigue, balancing out strictly scientific floral illustrations.
