Mayapple or Devil’s apple
American Mayapple
‘Podophyllum peltatum’
The Mayapple is also known by many other names.
Other common names for the May Apple are the Devil’s apple, Hog apple, Indian apple, Umbrella plant, the Wild lemon, and American mandrake.
According to history, Native Americans and early settlers originally used the rhizome
of the mayapple for a variety of medicinal purposes, eventhough
all the parts of the plant, except the fruit, are considered poisonous. May apples grow in patches or colonies, usually in open woodlands and bloom in early May.
May apple colony
© 2007 photo courtesy L Watts
The May apple is a perennial plant, native to the eastern part of North America.
The stems grow to between 12 to 16 inches tall, with palmately lobed leaves that have 5-9 deeply cut lobes.
The plant produces two forms. The ones with a single umbrella like leaf do not produce any flower or fruit.
The plants that have a twin leaf structure bear a single small white flower with six to nine petals.
May apple
© 2007 photo courtesy L Watts
© 2007 oOdles of infOrmation
