April Showers Bring...

A Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) plant in April.  This two-leafed plant has
produced a single white flower.  Rowan County, NC.

Mayapples.  These marvelous plants (Podophyllum peltatum) emerge from the ground in early spring like a closed umbrella.  The lobed leaves expand and the umbrella theme continues with the petiole of the leaf in the center.  In fact, another common name of this plant is Umbrella Leaf and the specific name, peltatum, refers to an umbrella-like structure with a stem in the middle.  

Mayapples with newly emerged leaves.  The leaves are umbrella-like, with the
petiole in the center.  Rowan County, NC.

Mayapples grow in large clonal colonies in the understory of eastern forests.  Some Mayapple plants produce a single leaf and others produce paired leaves.  Only the paired leaf plants produce flowers.  The flowers are white with a variable number of petals and produce a yellow fruit, the May Apple. 

A stand of Mayapple plants in the understory of a
deciduous forest.  This stand is probably a clone.  The
genetically identical plants all growing
from a common rhizome.  Rowan County, NC. 

A flower bud of a Mayapple. The single flower emerges from
between the two leaves.  Rowan County, NC.

A young Mayapple flower just opening. Rowan County, NC.

A closeup of a Mayapple flower.  Rowan County, NC. 

A Mayapple plant with its single fruit.  Rowan County, NC.

Mayapples leaves, roots, stems and young fruits contain podophyllotoxin.  If ingested, this naturally occurring poison causes diarrhea, vomiting, excessive salivation and other dire symptoms.  Podophyllotoxin works by interfering with cell division.  This plant-derived toxin is used medically in cancer chemotherapy and it has antiviral properties.  The mature fruit contains lower levels of the toxin and can be eaten in small amounts.  

As the fruits mature, the leaves begin to show yellow blotches.  A fungus, Mayapple Rust (Allodus podophylli), causes these spots.  Fungal spores emerge from the bottom of the infected Mayapple leaves to infect other plants.  The rust is a sign the life cycle of the Mayapple is ending. By late May the fruit is ripe and the plants begin to fade.  Many animals, including Box Turtles, eat the Mayapple fruits.  A turtle that has eaten a Mayapple fruit can carry away the seeds in their digestive tract and deposit them to establish new colonies of this spring favorite. 

The upper side of a Mayapple leaf with Mayapple Rust (Allodus podophylli). 
Infected sections of the leaf turn yellow.  Rowan County, NC.

The underside of a Mayapple leaf infected by Mayapple Rust. 
The dark spots are structures producing the spores that
allow the fungus to infect other plants. Rowan County, NC.