April 17, 2018
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
I noticed this plant for the first time while hiking in the Davidsonville Historic State Park in northeastern Arkansas. Since then I've seen it on all my hikes in the woodland areas where I've been camping. Hard to not wonder about this exotic plant that looks like an umbrella or a tiny palm tree. The entire plant is poisonous except for the tiny fruit it produces that generally ripens in late spring or early summer. The plants are found in groups among the trees and are all interconnected through a root system called rhizomes. There are two types, single stemmed that is sterile, producing no flower or fruit and double stemmed, where a single white flower develops where the main stem forks. The fruits are edible when they turn yellow and are poisonous when in their green unripened state. One should not consume but a few at a time because they are still poisonous if consumed in large quantities. One should not eat the seeds and it should only be consumed when fully ripe when the plant is dying and the fruit is fully yellow, soft and wrinkling a little. I've yet to try one myself, as I've only just discovered this plant when it was in its flowering stage. Seems a bit dangerous, so do be careful. Being a curious person that loves foraging, I'm likely to only consume one, so i can say I've tried it and to see what its taste is like.
The plants poisonous substance is podophyllotoxin and can be consumed as a purgative. It is also a cytostatic, meaning it inhibits cell growth and has shown promise in treating cancer. Two drugs derived from the plant, etoposide and teniposide are used in testicular cancer treatment, small-cell lung cancer, brain cancer and infancy leukaemia. The resin from the roots is also used as a topical for treating warts. Indians would commit suicide by consuming the plant.
Very peculiar plant to look for in the spring as a curiosity and a topic of conversation for those interested in wild plants.
