All ancient civilisations believed in the medicinal properties of roots, stems, flowers, fruits and barks of different trees. Some of the plants used for curing illness were considered magical. One such plant was Mandrake. The magician-physician believed that the plant could only be plucked in the moonlight or at dawn when the dew was still fresh on its leaves. If this wasn’t followed, the plant was said to give out a piercing scream and whoever heard it dropped dead. The physician hence preferred to approach the plant at midnight, his ears covered with wax, and the plant was tied to the dog’s tail. When the man ran away, the dog followed him, dragging with him the uprooted plant. Needless to say, no physician ever heard the plant scream!