5o6 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



PODOPHYLLUM. MAY APPLE. The rhizome of Podo- 

 phyllum peltatuni (Fam. Berberidaceae), a perennial herb (Fig. 

 222) indigenous to Eastern North America (p. 273). The rhi- 

 zome is collected late in summer and dried, after the removal of 

 the rootlets. (Fig. 104.) Most of the commercial supplies come 



Fig. 222. Top of fertile shoot of May apple {Podophyllum peltatum) having two large 

 peltate palmately lobed leaves, in the axil of which is the fleshy fruit containing numerous 

 truncate ovoid seeds. 



from the Central States. Both the leaves and the fruit apparently 

 contain a purgative resin similar to that found in the rhizome. 

 The berry, which is known as May, Indian, Hog or Devil's 

 apple ; wild or ground lemon, and Raccoon-berry, is generally 

 considered to be edible, but several cases of poisoning from it 

 have been recorded. 



Description. Horizontal, nearly cylindrical, flattened, some- 

 times branched, jointed, in pieces 3 to 8 cm. long, internodes 4 to 

 10 cm. long, 5 to 9 mm. in diameter, nodes 7 to 18 mm. in diam- 

 eter and 5 to 12 mm. thick; externally dark brown, longitudinally 

 wrinkled or nearly smooth, with irregular scars of bud-scales, 



