Mandrake was known in the ancient Near East as a herb that helped with pregnancy.
Gen 30:14During wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrake plants in the fields and brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”Gen 30:15Leah said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you now take away my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “He can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”