Question

The Physiologus claims that elephants use these objects as aphrodisiacs. Josephus described a place called Baaras where these objects shine in the evening. To collect these objects, a dog is tied to one of them and then encouraged to lunge forward, causing the dog’s death. These objects (15[1])share their name in German with a spirit who knows many secrets called the alrune. The Hand of Glory may derive from a French corruption of the word for these objects, which arise from the urine or semen (15[1])of (*) hanged men. In the Book of Genesis, the dudaim (“doo-dah-EEM”) that Rachel bartered from Leah in exchange for a night with Jacob are often identified with these plants, whose fertility power is also referenced in a John Donne poem beginning “Go and catch a falling star / get with child [one of these plants].” These plants can be harvested using wax to seal the ears. For 10 points, name this human-shaped (10[1])root with a lethal scream. ■END■

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