WILD FOODIES' HOME PAGE
PLANT PROFILE LIST

             

 

NAME: Mayapple

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Podophyllum / Berberidaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  American Mandrake, Raccoon Berry, Wild Lemon, Ground Lemon, Hog Apple, Indian Apple, Duck’s Foot, Umbrella Leaf

CONDITIONS: shade, moist soil, woods
 

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW/COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots
Leaves
Stalk/Stem
Buds
Flowers
Fruits		sweet/acid	RAW/COOK	late summer
Pods
Seeds
Nuts
Roots
Bark

 

PORTION: small

 

COMMENT: Ripe fruit resembles a lemon, unripe – a lime.(2) “Fruit - raw, cooked or made into jams, jellies, marmalades, pies etc. The fruit can also be dried for later use. Remove seeds before eating or cooking. The fruit is very aromatic, and has a peculiar though agreeable flavour. Sweet and acid.

 

CAUTION: Do not eat the seeds. In excess the fruit can cause colic.”(1) Do not consume if pregnant. Leaves, roots, seeds, and unripe fruit are toxic. (2)

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  Powerful medicinal. Antibilious;  Cancer;  Cathartic;  Cytostatic;  Homeopathy;  Hydrogogue;  Purgative;  Warts;  Women's complaints.(1)

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES: Insecticide. An infusion of the boiled leaves has been sprayed on potato plants to protect them from insects. Other reports suggest that it is insecticidal rather than repellent. The root ooze has been used to soak corn seed prior to planting it out in order to prevent it being eaten by crows or insects.(1)

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Podophyllum+peltatum
2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/podophyllum-peltatum-forgotten-fruit-2/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podophyllum
4. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2007/11/mayapple.html (good photos)
5. http://www.ediblewildfood.com/mayapple.aspx (good photos)
6. https://plighttofreedom.com/mayapple/