Mayapple

Scientific Name: Podophyllum peltatum. The genus name, Podophyllum, is a combination of two Greek words – podos (foot) and phyllon (leaf) – and refers to the foot-like shape of the leaves. Peltatum, the species name, indicates that they are shield-shaped with the stem attaching from below to the center of the leaf.¹

Common Name: Mayapple. With small green fruits that form in May, it’s not surprising that it’s common name is mayapple! Because it could be used as a purgative, a property shared with a plant called the European mandrake, Podophyllum peltatum also bears the name American mandrake.²

Family: Berberidaceae (Barberry family) There are around 650 species in this family, and they can be found across the world from Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America. Among the 10 species found in VA, natives include twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) and blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides). There are three species which are often used in landscaping but can escape and be invasive: Japanese barberry, leatherleaf mahonia, and nandina. Plants in the Barberry family may be herbaceous or woody and often have spines on their stems. Leaves may be simple or compound. The arrangement of the flowers on the stalk varies widely and flowers are often inconspicuous. Flowers typically have 6-9 petals and 6 sepals.²

Average Height: 1-1½’

Description: A perennial plant that grows in large colonies from rhizomatous roots. The large, medium to dark green leaves are smooth and can grow up to a foot across! As the species name, peltatum, suggests, the stalk supporting them is attached to the center of the underside of the leaf. The leaves are divided into 5-9 oval segments which are narrower at the base and are toothed and often cleft near their tips. The single white flower is about 1½” across, has 6-9 petals, and 12-18 stamens. The fruit is a 1-2” ovoid berry that changes from green to yellow as it ripens.^3,4,5

Bloom time: Mar-May

Notes: Fertile plants have two leaves at the end of the stalk, with the flower growing from the top of the stalk where the leaves branch. Infertile plants only have a single leaf. So it’s easy to tell which plants will be blooming, but the flowers are often hidden by the large leaves so look closely!⁴

Range: Common throughout all of Virginia.³ Range extends from Eastern Canada to Florida and as far west as Texas.

Geology/Soil: Grows best moist soils which are rich in organic matter.⁴

Habitat: Grows in a variety of forests including well-drained floodplain forests, moist to semi-moist upland forest and even moist, disturbed woodlands.^3,4

Flora associations: Often found with a wide array of other spring-blooming wildflowers such as Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylus), spring beauty (Claytonia virginica var. virginica), and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).

Fauna associations: The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees such as bumblebees (Bombus spp.). Mayapples may become infected by Mayapple Rust (Allodus podophylli), a bright orange fungus that lives solely on these plants.¹ Despite all parts of the plant except the ripe fruit being poisonous, there are some insects whose larvae feed on mayapple including a species of sawfly (Aglaostigma quattuordecimpunctatum)⁴ and the variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)¹. The seeds are most likely dispersed by box turtles, but possibly also by raccoons, opossums, and skunks which feed on the ripe fruits.^1,4

Human associations: All parts of the plant except the ripe fruit are poisonous, containing podophyllotoxin. Despite this, it does have some medical value with compounds used to treat warts and with potential to treat some cancers.⁶

We want these plants to thrive and for everyone who gets to visit the park to enjoy them, so remember – don’t pick flowers or other parts of the plant!!

1 New York City EcoFlora Podophyllum Peltatum L. (Berberidaceae, Barberry Family) Mayapple. https://www.nybg.org/content/uploads/2018/04/NYBGEcoQuest_2018_May_MayIsForMayapple_MoreInformation.pdf. Accessed 4 March 2024.

2 Lobstein, Marion. “History of the Naming of the MayApple.” Prince William Wildflower Society, vnps.org/princewilliamwildflowersociety/botanizing-with-marion/history-of-the-naming-of-the-mayapple/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024.

3 Weakley, A.S., J.C. Ludwig, and J.F. Townsend. 2012. Flora of Virginia. Bland Crowder, ed. Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project, Inc., Richmond. Fort Worth: Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press, , pp. 410-414.

4 “Mayapple (Podophyllum Peltatum).” www.illinoiswildflowers.info, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/mayapple.htm. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024.

5 Mahr, Susan. “Mayapple, Podophyllum Peltatum.” Wisconsin Horticulture, hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/mayapple-podophyllum-peltatum/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024.

6 “Podophyllum Peltatum Detail – FSUS.” Fsus.ncbg.unc.edu, fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon.php&plantname=Podophyllum+peltatum. Accessed 5 Mar. 2024.