A spring ephemeral with paired umbrella-like leaves shading a single white flower that develops into a yellow "apple." All parts except ripe fruit are toxic. Box turtles are major seed dispersers.

Also called: American Mandrake, Hog Apple, Wild Lemon

Native status: Native to eastern North America

§ Quick facts

SizeHeight 30–45 cm (12–18 in); umbrella-like leaves 25–40 cm across
WeightN/A
LifespanPerennial; clonal patches centuries old documented
OrderRanunculales
FamilyBerberidaceae

§ Encyclopedia

Podophyllum is a genus of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native from Afghanistan to China, and from southeast Canada to the central and eastern United States. The genus was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.

Source: Wikipedia — Podophyllum Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Pair of large umbrella-like deeply lobed leaves (looking like a small umbrella); single nodding white flower hidden in fork; yellow lemon-sized fruit.

Similar species. Twinleaf (smaller, white flower above leaves). Bloodroot (single round leaf). Trillium (three leaves).

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. N/A — photosynthesis

Behavior. Spring wildflower of rich eastern forests. Each rhizome shoot is either unbranched (one umbrella leaf, sterile) or branched (two leaves with a single white flower in the fork). Produces yellow lemon-like edible fruit ("mayapple" or "American mandrake") — only ripe yellow fruit is safely edible; all other parts contain podophyllotoxin, a potent toxin used to produce the chemotherapy drug etoposide. Box turtles are major seed dispersers.

§ Range

Eastern North America

§ Habitat

Mature deciduous forests, especially on rich moist soils

§ Threats

Forest loss, deer overbrowsing, illegal collection for herbal medicine market.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the mayapple is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support mature forest protection. Plant in shade gardens. Don't collect from wild.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USDA Plants Database
  • Native Plant Trust
  • podophyllotoxin/etoposide chemistry (Stähelin and von Wartburg 1991)