Now, here is a very interesting plant that, unlike the two previous plants in this series, happens to be native to Eastern North America. It is interesting that I found it on my property, since it is a plant that loves well-drained loamy soils and moist woodlands. My property is on a south-facing slope, but it is densely wooded in some areas and that is where I found the mayapple.

Mayapple is an extremely toxic plant, so be very careful with it. The only part of the plant that can be safely used is the fruit, and that only when it is ripe (no green shades of color in it). According to a number of sites, it was used by the Native American peoples to commit suicide, death occurring in a matter of hours after ingesting parts of the plant. It is also a very powerful laxative, so powerful that the Food and Drug Administration has warned against using it.

Mayapple (podophyllum peltatum L.)

In the 19th century, mayapple was one of the ingredients in Carter’s Little Liver Pills. The FDA has approved two drugs, etoposide and teniposide, which are prepared with podophyllotoxin and used in chemotherapy. Drugs that include podophyllotoxin are also used to treat viral and genital warts. Information on the medicinal use of mayapple may be found at Drugs.com and information about herbal uses of the plant may be found at Herbs2000.com