Mayapples

Have you ever seen a mayapple blossom?

Mayapple or Podophyllum

They are shy, and hide about halfway down the stem of the plant, their faces turned away from prying eyes.

Mayapples grow in colonies from a single root system. That’s why you will never see just one plant alone, and often they spread out over an entire stretch of forest floor.

Umbrella-shaped mayapple plants live in colonies on the forest floor.

The flower bud will often jut out of a v-like conjunction of two branches.

When the fruit ripens, it is yellow. But until that time, every part of the plant, including the flower and unripe fruit, is toxic.

Despite this, mayapple plants are known for their  medicinal uses. They contain a substance called podophyllotoxin, which is a purgative and a cytostatic. When mixed with salicylic acid, podophyllotoxin makes posalfilin which is used to treat plantar warts.

The flower appears in May, hence the name of the plant, though this year our flowers bloomed in April. The fruit of the mayapple, however, does not show up until summertime. If you are not quick to harvest it, the squirrels will beat you to it!

RELATED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podophyllum