MAYAPPLES

Have you noticed the plant that looks like a little green umbrella?  That is the Mayapple and they are starting to bloom this week.  The mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is an unusual plant.  It only has two leaves and a lone white, apple tree-like flower.  The flower grows at the base of the leaf stems (axils) which is weird.  About June you can find an egg-shaped fruit dangling under the leaves.  The fruit is edible and is used in jellies.  Good luck with that though.  Timing is everything.  If you find a ripe mayapple (golden yellow in color) fruit, consider yourself lucky.  Usually the mice get them first!  While the fruit can be eaten, don’t forage on the leaves, roots, or seeds.  These can be poisonous in large quantities.  I’m not sure how big of quantity that is but I’d be cautious and select a nice dandelion instead if you are driven to foraging.  You can find mayapples growing in the woods in damp spots (they like their “feet wet”.