Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 315 



woodlands. A coarse rank plant. The large fruit, somewhat re- 

 sembling a grape is mostly composed of a bullet-like seed which ap- 

 pears to be composed of vegetable ivory. 



358. MAY APPLE; WILD MANDRAKE 



PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM L. 



Fairly common in rather dry woodlands. Noted in flower in 

 Farrar's woods May 14, 1901 ; the umbrellas were up in fine shape 

 by April 19 and the buds had been showing for some time. Near 

 Bloomington, Indiana, a number of years ago, a clump of remark- 

 able plants of this species was found ; nearly every flower was 

 monstrous, the carpel not closing, so that the seeds were borne on 

 the outside. Plants observed near Washington, D. C, had the um- 

 brella-shaped leaves richly colored with a regular pattern of purple, 

 and would be worthy of a place in a flower-garden. On August 

 12, 1906, one of the inhabitants of Culver was seen with a large 

 basket full of the ripe fruits — fine large ones, some russetty on 

 one side, all an exquisitely rich yellow — altogether an unusual sight. 

 It looked like the garden of the Hesperides had been burglarized. 

 The fruits are sometimes used to make a jelly. 



Family 60. Menispermace^e. Moonseed Family 



359. MOONSEED 



MENISPERMUM CANADENSE L. 



4 



Not very common about the lake ; some plants seen on Over- 

 myer's hill. The blackish berries, which have a peculiar disagree- 

 able, astringent taste, are eaten by birds. In some places this 

 plant is known as "Wild Sarsaparilla" (a name also applied to 

 Aralia nudicaulis) , and a decoction of the long yellow rootstock is 

 used in the preparation of home-made medicines. Old dead vines 

 separate along the medulary rays and the segments twist about 

 each other like the coils of a rope. 



Family 61. Laurace^. Laurel Family 



360. SASSAFRAS 



SASSAFRAS SASSAFRAS <L.) Karst. 



Very common about the lake, especially southwest, by Farrar's 

 and Overymyer's, and back of Walley's. Found on the east side by 

 the Chandler cottage; also on the depot grounds near shore. In 

 flower May 6, 1901, and everywhere in bloom May 7. September 



