Page 88 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
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Mayapple/Wild Mandrake,
Podophyllum peltatum
(BERBERIDACEAE)
MAYAPPLE or WILD MANDRAKE is a lone species They are deep forest green, palmately lobed with 3-9
in its genus and a unique plant that colonizes by rhi- shal low to deeply cut lobes.
zomes and forms dense mats in damp, open woods.
EDIBLE PARTS: only very ripe fruit, without the seeds
It blooms in May, making an edible ripe golden yel-
(The rest of the plant is poisonous.)
low fruit in the fall. Mayapples grow in the eastern
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Resin used for moles, warts
United States and are rare and endangered in some
and skin cancer. Use with care.
places. They prefer moist, rich soil in part shade in
deciduous forests. It is a native herbaceous perennial HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: In fall, fruit will begin
that grows 1 to 1 ½ ft. (0.3-0.45 m) tall. From nodes to be ripen enough to eat. Unripe fruit resemble a lime
of the rhizome arise solitary stalks with an umbrel- and are poisonous until fully ripe. When the fruit is
la-shaped leaf on top, which gives the mat-like ap- ripe it is soft, golden yellow (occasionally red) and
pearance. wrinkly. It has a unique flavor and can be used in pre-
serves or cold drinks. The seeds are poisonous and
FLOWER: Mature plants have one solitary flower at
need to be removed.
the axil of a second lower leaf. The flowers are nod-
ding, white to rose colored, and usually bloom in May, MAYAPPLE CUCUMBER WATER: Gather 2-3 very ripe
resembling an apple blossom. There are 6-9 waxy mayapples and one large cucumber. Slice the mayap-
petals and each flower is 2 to 3 inches (5-7.5 cm) ples in half lengthwise and discard the seeds. Cut into
across. The subsequent fruit is a lemon-shaped berry ¼ inch (0.5 cm) strips. Slice the cucumber into ¼ inch
2 inches (5 cm) long. (0.5 cm) slices. In a 2-gallon (8L) container, place slic-
LEAF: At maturity, each stalk has a top leaf and alow- es. Fill with 2 gallons (8L) of water. Let sit overnight.
Enjoy. You could also add lemon slices.
er leaf with one flower. The top leaf is a large, twin,
umbrella-like showy leaf. It remains closed while the WARNING: Leaves and roots are very poisonous. They
stem lengthens. At 1 to 1 ½ ft. (0.3-0.45 m) tall the contain podophyllotoxin, which is highly toxic. Do not
leaves unfold to 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) across. consume ripe fruit if pregnant.
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