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Podophyllum peltatum - Mayapple/Mandrake


This plant grows from 12 to 20 inches tall.  Flowering plants have a forked stem with one leaf on each branch.  Nonflowering plants have one leaf on an unforked stem.  The leaves are palmately divided into 5 to 9 lobes.  The flower and fruit are at the petiole junction.  The flower has 6-9 white petals.  The berry is yellow when ripe.

The seeds, leaves, roots, and green fruit are poisonous.  The Mayapple was used by Native Americans and settlers for several medicinal purposes.  It is now a source of medicinal compounds.  The fruit pulp is edible raw if ripe, and has been used to make preserves.

This plant flowers April through May.  It is common, and is found in moist woods and meadows.

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  • Home
  • Animals
    • Birds >
      • Avian Taxonomy
      • Bird Species Profiles
    • Mammal Species Profiles
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians >
      • Frog and Toad Species Profiles
    • Fish
    • Arthropods >
      • Arthropod Species Profiles
  • Plants
    • Native Plant Societies
    • Eastern Plant Identification Guide
  • Fungi
    • Fungi Species Profiles
  • Protists
  • Nature Products Store
  • Cell Phone Ringtones
  • Madbird Feeder Cam
  • Ramblings of the Madbird Biologist
  • Bird Videos
  • News in Science
  • Nature Inspired Recipes
  • An Introduction to Scientific Classification and Naming
  • Birds in the Classroom
  • Resources
  • About Me