Envoy at 16:22, 22 October 2007

2007-10-22T16:22:30Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Mayapple
| image = Podophyllum peltatum.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Mayapple in flower
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Berberidaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Podophyllum]]''
| species = '''''P. peltatum'''''
| binomial = ''Podophyllum peltatum''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

'''''Podophyllum peltatum''''' <ref>{{ITIS|ID=18850}}</ref> (the mayapple) is a [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] in the family [[Berberidaceae]], native to the eastern part of [[North America]].

The stems grow to 30-40 cm tall, with palmately lobed [[leaf|leaves]] up to 20-30 cm diameter with 5-9 deeply cut lobes. The plant produces two growth forms. The ones with a single umbrella-like leaf do not produce any flower or fruit. The plants having a twin leaf (rarely three-leaf) structure, however, bear a single white [[flower]] 3-5 cm diameter with six (rarely up to nine) petals, between the two leaves; this matures into a yellow-greenish [[fruit]] 2-5 cm long. The plant appears in colonies in open woodlands. Individual shoots are often connected by systems of thick [[tubers]] and [[rhizomes]]. <ref name = "Fondren"> {{cite web
| last = Fondren
| first = Brian T
| url = http://www.siu.edu/~ebl/leaflets/mayapple.htm
| title = Mayapple
| work = Ethnobotanical leaflets
| accessdate = 2006-06-03
}} </ref>

Despite the common name '''mayapple''' <ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=POPE ''Podophyllum peltatum''] at [http://plants.usda.gov/ USDA PLANTS Database]</ref>, it is the flower that appears in early May, not the "apple", which appears later during the summer. The Mayapple is also called the Devil's apple, Hogapple, Indian apple, Umbrella plant (shape of the leaves), Wild lemon (flavor of the fruit), Wild mandrake, and American mandrake (shape of rhizomes).

According to Brian Fondren, the rhizome of the mayapple has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, originally by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and later by other [[settlers]]. <ref name = "Fondren" />

===Toxicity===
All the parts of the plant, excepting the fruit, are poisonous. This plant can kill humans within 24 hours. Even the fruit, though not dangerously poisonous, can cause unpleasant red/yellow diarrhea. The plant contains [[podophyllotoxin]] <ref> Moraes, R.M., H. Lata, E. Bedir, M. Maqbool, and K. Cushman. 2002. ''[http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-527.html On American Mayapple as practical source of podophyllotoxin]'' p. 527–532. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.</ref>, which is used as a [[cytostatic]] and topically in the treatment of [[genital wart]]s.
[[Image:PoisonousMayApple099.jpg|thumb|left|A flowering plant]]
[[Image:PoisonousMayApple100.jpg|thumb|right|Fruit touching the earth on June 14, 2007]]
[[Image:PoisonousMayApple101.jpg|thumb|right|Fruit touching the earth on June 14, 2007]]
[[Image:PoisonousMayApple102.jpg|thumb|right|Fruit on July 18, 2007]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book | author=[[Neltje Blanchan|Blanchan, Neltje]] | title=[[Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors]] | year=[[2002]] | publisher=[[Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]}}

== External links==
* [http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/botany/mayhist.html Mayapple information]
* [http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H29.htm Mayapple information]

{{commons|Podophyllum peltatum}}

{{wikispecies|Podophyllum peltatum}}

[[Category:Berberidaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of North America]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]

American Mayapple - Revision history

Envoy at 16:22, 22 October 2007