Podophyllum peltatum Linnaeus. Common name: May-apple, American Mandrake, Wild Jalap. Phenology: (Late Feb-) Mar-Apr; May-Jun. Habitat: Rich forests, bottomlands, slopes, pastures. Distribution: NS west to MN, south to Panhandle FL and TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Other Comments: The ripe fruits are edible; the rest of the plant contains a variety of alkaloids, and is poisonous-medicinal. Compounds from Podophyllum are used in wart removal, and show anti-viral and anti-cancer promise.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, Fl2, FNA3, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, (basionym); > Podophyllum peltatum L. var. annulare J.M.H.Shaw — Shaw (2000), Shaw (2002); > Podophyllum peltatum L. var. peltatum — Shaw (2000), Shaw (2002)
Links to other floras: = Podophyllum peltatum - FNA3
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Podophyllum peltatum (emerging), Coosawattee River Bluffs, Murray County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
| Intro | Stems | Leaves | Inforescence | Flowers | Fruits | Comments | Height | plant sale text | bloom table text | description | stems | leaves | inflorescence | flowers | fruits | comments | cultural notes | germination code | native range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rhizomatous, colonial perennial found in rich forests and on bottomlands, slopes and pastures. | A single, smooth stem emerges in early spring from a rhizome bearing distinct annual increment scars. | Leaves 2 (only 1 on young plants), opposite, rounded, to 8 in. or more wide, palmately divided into 5-9 lobes, unfurling as stem lengthens, to finally stand horizontally erect at the forked tip of the stem. | Flower single, nodding on a stalk below the leaves; waxy-white; 1-2 in. wide; consisting of 6-9 rounded, overlapping petals, many prominent yellow stamens and a yellow-green ovary. | Fruit a fleshy, oval, lemon-colored berry. | Root, leaves and unripe fruit of this species are highly toxic. | 12-18 in. | May-apple is a delightful spring wildflower that produces a single showy, nodding white flower under handsome umbrella-like leaves in April. These plants only bloom when mature enough to produce two leaves per stem. The flower develops into an edible, greenish fruit, turning golden when ripe and is used for preserves. All other parts of this plant are poisonous! By the end of June, this species has gone dormant. Native to much of the eastern US, it prefers rich, moist humusy soil but is also somewhat tolerant of poor soil conditions and drought. Ideally planted in areas that can be devoted exclusively to may-apple, as it tends to colonize shady areas. | Rhizomatous, colonial perennial found in rich forests and on bottomlands, slopes and pastures. | A single, smooth stem emerges in early spring from a rhizome bearing distinct annual increment scars. | Leaves 2 (only 1 on young plants), opposite, rounded, to 8 in. or more wide, palmately divided into 5-9 lobes, unfurling as stem lengthens, to finally stand horizontally erect at the forked tip of the stem. | Flower single, nodding on a stalk below the leaves; waxy-white; 1-2 in. wide; consisting of 6-9 rounded, overlapping petals, many prominent yellow stamens and a yellow-green ovary. | Fruit a fleshy, oval, lemon-colored berry. | Root, leaves and unripe fruit of this species are highly toxic. | eastern North America |
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