Podophyllum peltatum aka Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum, also known as mayapple, American mandrake, wild mandrake, and ground lemon, is an herbaceous perennial plant from the family Berberidaceae that is widespread across most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Found in forests, natural areas, rich woods, fields, and pastures, the plant often grows in colonies derived from a single root. Mayapples are shade-tolerant plants that produce several stems from a creeping underground rhizome. Some stems bear a single leaf and do not produce any flower or fruit, 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" to 2") diameter with 6–9 petals, and mature into a green, yellow or red fleshy fruit 2–5 cm (1 in to 2 in) long. The plant grows to 30–40 cm (12 in to 16 in) tall, with palmately lobed umbrella-like leaves up to 20–40 cm (8 in to 16 in) diameter with 3–9 shallowly to deeply cut lobes. The leaves make it easy to identify the mayapple, which is also known for forming large colonies and spreading via rhizomes. However, it is obligately dependent upon mycorrhizae to assist with nutrient uptake in infertile conditions, although it may also be facultatively dependent upon rhizome age and soil nutrient levels. All parts of the plant are poisonous, including the green fruit, but once the fruit has turned yellow, it can be safely eaten. The substance they contain (podophyllotoxin or podophyllin) is used as a purgative and as a cytostatic. Posalfilin is a drug containing podophyllin and salicylic acid that is used to treat the plantar wart. Podophyllotoxin is highly toxic if consumed. Mayapple is also grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive foliage and flowers, and it is a larval host for the golden borer moth and the may apple borer. Though the common name is mayapple, 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. The plant is dormant in the summer months, and the foliage disappears. As a shade-tolerant plant, mayapple is a natural for woodland gardens. If you live in eastern North America, consider mayapple for your native-plant garden. If you live elsewhere in its hardiness range and wish to grow it, take comfort in the fact that this plant is known to naturalize easily. In fact, if the conditions are right, mayapple might naturalize a bit too freely and spread out of control. The plant is also a source of podophyllotoxin or podophyllin, which is used for medicinal purposes. However, care should be taken as podophyllotoxin is highly toxic if consumed. Mayapple plants are commonly found infected by the rust Allodus podophylli, appearing as honeycomb-patterned orange colonies under the leaves, and yellowish lesions on the upper surface.