Gary Davis 
You may have seen the Mayapple plant while in the woods and weren’t sure what it was. It shoots up in early spring before the trees have fully set their leaves. Let’s look at this interesting plant and some of the facts you need to know about this prolific plant in the Ozarks.
The Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) plant gets its common name from the fact that they bloom and set fruit around May every year. They are widespread in the Eastern US in plant zone 3-8. They are usually encountered in large colonies in the spring before they go dormant during the summer heat.
The leaves remain curled around the stem until the plant is almost to its full height before they unfurl. The stems may produce a single leaf or two leaves.
The reason they are found in colonies is due to the fact they grow from an underground rhizome. You may remember the term rhizome from our article and videos on Cutleaf Toothwort. The rhizome which Mayapple plants arise from in the spring is shallow and creeps just underground through the rich soil created by the leaves which fall and decay on the forest floor.
Individual plants arise from buds on the rhizome and grow to 12-18 inches tall on a single stem. The plants may have 1 but no more than 2 umbrella-like leaves. Some plants produce a single leaf while others branch and grow 2 leaves. Hiding under the leaves is a surprise.
The Mayapple plant will produce a single flower. Only plants that develop 2 leaves will flower. The flower arises from the bifurcation of the stem where the leaves form. They are usually hidden from view when looked at from above.
The flowers can be white to rose-colored and can be 2-3 inches in diameter. They are showy but short-lived. The flowers are an important early-season food source for long-tongued bees such as bumblebees.
Flowers that are pollinated will produce a single oval to lemon-shaped fruit during the summer. These fruits are used by some to make jelly or jams. However, the rest of the plant, including the seeds, is toxic.
Mayapple is Toxic
All parts of the plant except the fruit contain a substance known as podophyllotoxin. This toxin is produced by all parts of the plant but is extracted for use from the roots and rhizomes, which contain the highest concentrations of the toxin. Even the seeds contain this toxin.
The extract is used commercially to create medicine. It has the effect of stopping both cellular and viral DNA from replicating. It is classified as an antimitotic drug. It is used to treat some forms of cancer and is also used in creams as an antiviral agent to treat warts, such as venereal warts.
Some reports even suggest you can absorb the toxin by simply handling the plant or the fruit. It can be toxic to pets if they are exposed or consume parts of the plant. It can induce vomiting, diarrhea, or drooling in dogs and can also cause skin irritation from contact with the leaves.
There are some animals that may eat the fruit of the Mayapple without ill effects. These include box turtles, opossums, raccoons, and skunks.
Conclusion
Now that you can recognize the Mayapple you will know to avoid it due to its toxicity to humans and other animals. Although the fruit when ripe isn’t considered poisonous I’ll be avoiding this plant entirely.
This is a plant that is easily recognized when you have learned the characteristics.
