Family: Berberidaceae (Barberry)
Other names: may apple, American mandrake, may pop, devil's apple, hog apple, Indian apple, umbrella plant, wild lemon, raccoon berry, duck's foot
Name meaning: The name mayapple refers to the fruit, which ripens around May; Podophyllum means "foot leaf", which refers to the shape of the leaves, in that the lobes look like the webbed feet of aquatic birds. Peltatum means "shield like", referring again to the shape of the leaves.
Origin: Mayapple is native to eastern North America.
Range: In North America, mayapple ranges from southern Canada south to Florida and west to Minnesota and Texas. It is sometimes cultivated in Europe and other parts of the world for its medicinal properties.
Habitat: moist, open woods and wet meadows
Life cycle: Perennial
Description: Mayapple is a small understory plant with a very unusual appearance. When young, it has a single stem with a single, round umbrella-like leaf. This leaf has many lobes radiating out from the center, and each lobe ends with large, blunt, irregular teeth. When the plant flowers around April, the leaf and the stem split in half to create two stems and two leaves. The in the place where the stems diverge, a large white flower with a yellow center and 6-9 petals appears. The flower has a long stalk, so that it sometimes hangs from the plant. In May or June, the flower is replaced by a large, yellowish, oblong fruit. The small, stringy roots extend from long fibrous rhizomes. The plant usually grows to about one foot high, often less.
Similar plants: Mayapple is sometimes called American mandrake because the roots are said to look similar to mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), and because they both carry the duality of medicine and poison, but they are not related in any way, their above-ground parts look quite different, and they have very different uses. There are a few other members of the Podophyllum genus, such as P. pleianthum and P. emodi, which grow in Asia and have been used similarly. They have similar leaves, and the flowers are similar but often pinkish; the fruits are red.

Uses

Edible: The fruit is edible raw or made into jams, jellies, pies, etc. Only eat those that are fully ripe, that is, when they have lost their green tint (see warning below), and do not eat the rind or seeds. The fruit can also be dried for later use.

Medicinal: The root is a powerful laxative, so powerful the FDA has warned against using it. For this use the root was made into an infusion or chewed raw. It has also been used as an emetic (to induce vomiting), a hepatic, meaning it stimulates the liver, an intestinal stimulant, and to promote bile flow and digestion. It was also used internally for worms, rheumatism, fever, syphilis, and as an antidote to snakebites. However, it is extremely toxic and internal use in not recommended (see warning below). According to some accounts, the plant is poisonous enough that it has been used to commit suicide. Externally, the powered root has been used on ulcers and sores, and an infusion was used on boils. The root resin was used on warts, and the root juice was dropped into the ear for deafness. Mayapple contains podophyllotoxin, which inhibits cell growth. Because of this it can be used in cancer treatments, and is currently an ingredient in cancer drugs such as Etoposide, Teniposide, and Vepeside.

Utilitarian: An infusion of the plant is sprayed on plants to kill insects. The chemical podophyllotoxin found in mayapple has been established to have insecticidal properties.

Magical: Used in protection charms; some Native Americans used the plant in love charms. Because of its association with Mandragora officinarum, it is often listed with the same magical uses, though the plants are unrelated.

Warning: The unripe fruit is a strong laxative; don't eat it unless it's fully ripe. All other parts of the plant are extremely toxic and should not be eaten. The rind and seeds of the fruit may also be toxic. Despite historical uses of the root internally, I would not recommend it as it is now known to be highly toxic; it absolutely should not be used during pregnancy. The FDA has declared that the roots are too strong to be used safely as a laxative.

Where to find mayapple

Mayapple is fairly common all over its range. Look for low, wet spots. From a distance, a stand of mayapple will make the forest floor appear bright green. To find the fruit, go out in May or June and look for plants which have split into two leaves; the fruit will be dangling between them. Only eat ones that are fully ripe. Make sure there are more fruiting nearby; you don't want to eat the only one. Check your local laws before harvesting from public lands. If you want to grow mayapple, it prefers rich, moist soils and partial shade.

Links

Wikipedia: Mayapple
Botanical.com: Mayapple
Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States: Mayapple
King's American Dispensatory: Podophyllum
HerbNet: LMN Herbs (scroll down to mayapple)
Herbs 2000: Mayapple
Nature's Herbal: American Mandrake
Herbal Remedies: Mayapple
Cyberbotanica: Mayapple
USDA Plant Profile: Podophyllum peltatum