Beware of this poisonous wild plant, it's the jerboa.

Arab Weather - Beware of this poisonous wild plant, it's the jerboa (scientific name: Mandragora officinarum)
Common names include: gerbil, mandrake, mad apple.

"Jarbuh" is a word from the Syriac language ܓܰܪܒܽܘܚܳܐ and it means wounded.

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But why should we be wary of this plant?

Because almost all parts of the gerbil plant contain toxic compounds that directly affect the nervous system, most notably atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, which are substances that can cause serious poisoning even when consumed in small quantities.

Symptoms of poisoning often begin with:

• Severe dryness of the mouth and throat
• Blurred vision and dilated pupils
• rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness, hallucinations, and loss of concentration
• In severe cases, it may lead to convulsions or coma.

This plant has been famous for hundreds of years in folk medicine and ancient myths because of the strange shape of its roots that resembles the human body, so it was associated with magic and superstitions in some ancient civilizations, but its indiscriminate use is a real danger to health.

The plant *Jarbuha* grows in the Mediterranean basin, including some wild areas in the Levant. Its fruits often appear attractively resembling small apples or yellow tomatoes, which may tempt children or some people to try it without knowing its dangers.

Therefore, experts advise against touching or consuming any unknown wild plant, and against using jerboa in folk remedies or traditional medicine without specialized medical supervision, as poisoning from it may require urgent medical intervention.

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