Also called wild mandrake.

Part of barberry  family Berberidaceae in barberry/​buttercup/​poppy  order Ranunculales.

Native to 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 Canada and USA, east of the 🗻︎ Rocky Mountains.   🗺 Map by county (🇺🇸 USA-48) (color key).

Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)
  Most parts of the plant cause diarrhea and severe digestive upset.

Only visible early in the growing season, in a forest, with one or ♧╤♧ two large horizontal lobed leaves, 🥾 boot-top- to 🦵 knee-high.   If the plant has two leaves, it may then have a single white blossom (pointed down) or green (later yellow) fruit, hidden under the leaves.  Plants always seems to grow in a group, apparently a clonal colony.

Learn more about mayapple Podophyllum peltatum

🔍︎ 🔍︎ images Discover Life Encyclopedia of Life Michigan Flora (Minnesota) Wildflower Garden Minnesota Wildflowers Missouri Botanical Garden Missouri Plants Native Plant Trust Flora of North America USDA PLANTS db Wikipedia