| Mayapple | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Podophyllum peltatum[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Podophyllum |
| Species: | P. peltatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Podophyllum peltatum | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Podophyllum peltatum is a North American herbaceousperennial plant in the familyBerberidaceae. Itscommon names aremayapple,American mandrake,wild mandrake,[4] andground lemon.[5]
Mayapples are woodland plants, typically growing incolonies derived from a single root. The stems grow to 30–40 cm (12–16 in) tall, with palmately lobed umbrella-likeleaves up to 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) diameter with 3–9 shallowly to deeply cut lobes. The plants produce several stems from a creeping undergroundrhizome; some stems bear a single leaf and do not produce anyflower orfruit, while flowering stems produce a pair or more leaves with 1–8 flowers in the axil between the apical leaves. The flowers are white, yellow or red, 2–6 cm (1–2 in) diameter with 6–9 petals, and mature into a green, yellow or red fleshy fruit 2–5 cm (1–2 in) long.[6]
Though the common name is mayapple,[7] in some areas it is the flower that appears in early May, not the "apple". The fruit or "apple" is usually produced early in summer and ripens later in summer.
It is widespread across most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.[8][9]
They are a larval host for thegolden borer moth and themay apple borer.[10]
Many species of plants havemycorrhizae to assist with nutrient uptake in infertile conditions. Mayapple plants are considered obligately dependent upon such mycorrhizae, although it may also be facultatively dependent upon rhizome age and soil nutrient levels.[11] Plants are commonly found infected by therustAllodus podophylli, appearing as honeycomb-patterned orange colonies under the leaves, and yellowish lesions on the upper surface.[12][13]
All the parts of the plant are poisonous, including the unripe green fruit and perhaps the ripe fruit eaten in excess.[14][15][16] The rhizome, foliage, and roots are all poisonous.[17] Mayapple containspodophyllotoxin[18] orpodophyllin, which is highly toxic if consumed.[citation needed]
The ripened yellow fruit is edible in small amounts and is sometimes made into jelly.[14][15][16]
Mayapple has been used byIndigenous Americans as anemetic,cathartic,[19] andantihelmintic agent.[19] The rhizome of the mayapple has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, originally byindigenous inhabitants and later by othersettlers.[citation needed]
Mayapple can be usedtopically as anescharotic in removing warts, and two of its derivatives,etoposide andteniposide, have shown promise in treating somecancers.[20][21] Etoposide is among theWorld Health Organisations's list of essential medicines[22] and it is derived from podophyllotoxin.[23] Podophyllotoxin or podophyllin is used as apurgative and as acytostatic.Posalfilin is a drug containing podophyllin andsalicylic acid that is used to treat theplantar wart.[citation needed]
They are also grown asornamental plants for their attractive foliage and flowers.
