Mayapple - Podophyllum Peltatum: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the American Mandrake

Edible Uses of Mayapple
Medicinal Uses of Mayapple
Alternative Uses of American Mandrake
Growing Podophyllum Peltatum

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) tends to grow in clusters making for a charming, miniature (~2ft tall) umbrella forest. It’s easy to identify. It’s not listed in Haliburton Flora, being mostly a southern Ontario native.

Edible Uses of Mayapple

The edible ripe late summer fruits are dull yellow, without any hint of green, with a melon-like sweet soft pulp. The leaves may already be dying back at this stage. The fruit should come off easily. If the fruit is not ripe it’ll be bad tasting and toxic. Peel the bitter rind off, and always remove the toxic seeds. The roots are especially poisonous. The side effects range from explosive diarrhea for minor poisoning to death, so you may notice Internet clickbait fearmongering aimed at the whole plant.

The ripe pulp can be eaten raw or cooked, but be sure to eat or prepare it within a day. It can be used for jams and jellies, juice, even pie.

Medicinal Uses of Mayapple

Mayapple is primarily said to support these body systems:

Digestive
Integumentary
Lymphatic

Medicinal tags include Alterative, Emetic and Purgative. See Medicinal tag key for more information.

Common usage is a resin from the roots used to remove warts, due to caustic podophyllotoxin. Even though it may be best known as a laxative, self administration is only sometimes recommended for topical treatment and even then it’s irritating (especially don’t get it in your eyes!), can cause dermatitis, and may even cause hair loss. For warts (genital, uterine) you can find it in safer commercial gels.

It’s also being studied and used for various cancers. The cancer drug Etoposide is derived from podophyllotoxin. These synthetic drugs have less toxicity. Do not self administer; I can’t emphasize this enough for mayapple.

Alternative Uses of American Mandrake

An insecticide to protect potato plants from potato bugs can be made from boiling the leaves or the whole plant. Corn seeds can be soaked in root resin before planting, to keep wildlife from eating them. But wear gloves!

Growing Podophyllum Peltatum

Mayapple prefers partial to full shade in well drained soil. I see it mostly south of cottage country, in mixed deciduous forest, or shaded banks and trails in the woods. However, in sunny spots it will fruit more and in shaded spots it may rarely fruit.

Up in Haliburton the mayapple is really a near-native. it’s possible our late frosts may damage the blooms, and planting in full sun may be your best bet for fruiting potential. The pollinators whose caterpillars it hosts are more southern as well, like the Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia). Many insects will visit the blooms though, and small animals may eat the fruit.

You can divide the rhizomes in the fall when dormant. Growing from seeds requires moist cold stratification. The plant will begin to die back in summer, so it is great to pair with late summer perennials or ferns if shaded.

WARNINGS

Eat only the ripe fruit, and in moderation.

This is possibly the most dangerous root in the wild here.

And the Usual Cautions:

1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.

2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.

3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.

4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.

5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.

6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.

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REFERENCES

My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: of Eastern and Central North America (The Sam Thayer’s Field Guides) Paperback – June 1, 2023 and this plant IS featured as one of the edible wild plants in this area. I highly recommend this guide for your bookshelves!

https://illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/mayapple.htm

https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/3672?lang=en

wiki/Podophyllum_peltatum

The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region

Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada

Stalking The Wild Asparagus (Field Guide Edition).

The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles: Learn How To Forage, Prepare & Eat 40 Wild Foods

How to Eat in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Foraging, Trapping, Fishing, and Finding Sustenance in the Wild