Mayapple, Wild Mandrake, Podophyllum peltatum

Mayapple should be used internally with great caution if you choose to use it. It is in the Berberidaceae (Barberry) Family. It is widespread in eastern North America. You are most likely to find it in damp meadows and open woods.

Identification: Mayapple grows 12 to 18 inches (20 cm to 30 cm) tall and has very large leaves. The leaves are smooth, paired, and umbrella-like. Leaves are palmately lobed, 8 to 12 inches (20 cm to 30 cm) in diameter, with 3 to 9 lobes. Some stems produce a single leaf without any flower or fruit, while others produce two or more leaves and 1 to 8 drooping flowers (often just one) in the axil between the leaves. The 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide waxy flowers are white, red, or yellow, with 6 to 9 petals and bloom in May. These plants grow in clumps that originate from a single rhizome. Edible Use: The fruit are edible when ripe, but other parts of the plant are poisonous. Note that the fruits are poisonous until they ripen. They mature into a yellow or red fleshy fruit that is 2 inches (5 cm) long, eggshaped, and wrinkled. The fully ripe fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is often used for jams and pies. The seeds and rind are not edible and must be removed before cooking or eating. The fruit tastes similar to a paw-paw.

Medicinal Use: Warts, Moles, Genital

Warts, and Skin Cancer: Mayapple resin from the plant stems is useful for treating warts and moles. Place diluted resin on the wart, mole, or skin cancer, being careful to keep the resin confined to the affected area. Wear gloves when squeezing the resin from the stems and mix with alcohol at a 20% resin dilution (1 part of resin diluted with 5 parts alcohol). This dilution should be strictly observed. Higher concentrations can do harm to the skin, while lower dilutions may not be effective enough. Leave the diluted resin on the skin for one to four hours and then wash. Only a single application is needed. The lesions whiten within a few hours and begin to wither away within one to two days. Within three days, the lesions begin to disappear. Other Cancers: Mayapple has been used in the treatment of other cancers. However, the plant is quite toxic and can be fatal. Only use mayapple under the supervision of a highly qualified medical professional. Warning: Do not use during pregnancy or on small children. Avoid handling the resin with bare hands, as it is absorbed through the skin and can be toxic or even deadly.