Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 133 



MANDRAKE; MAY APPLE (Podophyllum pelta- 

 tum) belongs to the Barberry Family (Berberida- 

 ceae), a small family of shrubs or herbs, divided into 

 five genera of but one or two species each. The 

 present species is quite common in rich woods, or in 

 shady, moist ground, from western N. E. to Minn, 

 and southwards, flowering in May. The bare stalk 

 rises to heights of 10 to 12 inches, then branches into 

 two long-stemmed, light green, large, spreading 

 leaves; the latter are five to nine-parted, lobed, 

 notched, and unevenly balanced. From the forked 

 joint of the leaves, hangs a solitary white flower on a 

 short, slender, curving peduncle; this is very deli- 

 cate, nearly two inches across, and of six petals and 

 twice as many stamens. Other non-flowering stalks 

 bear at the summits, single, large, one-sided, divided 

 leaves. 



While the blossom of the May Apple yields no nec- 

 tar, it is visited by bees in search of pollen and is 

 chiefly fertilized through their agency. The fruit is 

 large and lemon-shaped, yellow in color, ripening in 

 July. It is the fruit that gives it the name of May 

 Apple. It is also known as "Wild Lemon/' quite an 

 appropriate name if the fruit alone is considered. 

 While the leaves and stem are poisonous, the fruit is 

 not, but has a peculiar, acid, sickish flavor. 



TWINLEAF (Jeffersonia diphylla) is a small, low 

 plant, being only about 8 in. high when in flower. The 

 solitary white flower has eight white petals and half 

 as many early-falling sepals; it grows at the top of 

 a naked scape. The two-parted leaves grow from 

 the root on long petioles; they are bright above and 

 rather whitish below. 



Twinleaf is not uncommon in moist woods from N. 

 Y. to Wise, and southwards; it flowers in April and 

 May. 



