Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Mandrake

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Mayapple	Podophyllum peltatum L.	Barberry	Woodland	Spring
Other names and notes	(Mandrake). Found in the far corner of the bog and near the Martha Crone Shelter in the Woodland Garden. The 1 to 2 inch wide flower hangs beneath the junction of the two umbrella like leaves. Flowering plants have two leaves, otherwise one. A small apple-like fruit forms in summer that contains many seeds. As the plant only grows to about one foot in height the umbrella leaf is what you will usually see. Once planted, it will multiply, but not invasively. The seeds, leaves and un-ripe fruit is poisonous.

Notes: Eloise Butler's records show that she obtained plants of this species on April 29, 1908 from Kelsey's Nursery in Salem, MA. Martha Crone noted planting it in 1936. It is listed on her 1931 census of plants in the Garden. The plant is native to 11 counties south of Dakota and Carver that form the SE corner Minnesota.

Return to -- Site Plan/Archive --or-- List of Common Plant Names -- or -- List of Scientific Names -- or --Home Page

References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

020910