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Podophyllum peltatum

L.

Mayapple

G5Secure Found in 117 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Photo by Leah Fulton, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Leah Fulton, CC BY 4.0
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Photo by Leah Fulton, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Leah Fulton, CC BY 4.0
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Photo by Tim Vespidae, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Tim Vespidae, CC BY-NC 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.157183
Element CodePDBER08010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRanunculales
FamilyBerberidaceae
GenusPodophyllum
Other Common Names
American Mandrake (EN) mayapple (EN) May-apple (EN) Podophylle pelté (FR) Wild Jalap (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-10-16
Change Date1984-05-03
Edition Date2024-10-16
Edition AuthorsJohn R. Boetsch (1/00); rev. Eric Nielsen (1/00), rev. N. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Podophyllum peltatum is a perennial forb occurring in mixed deciduous forests, road banks, and river banks of eastern North America from Quebec and Ontario, Canada, south to Florida, west to Texas, north to Nebraska and Minnesota in the Unites States, and introduced to Europe. There are over 3,000 estimated occurrences of this taxon, which are threatened by wild-collection for medicinal purposes, habitat conversion due to development, logging, and road widening. This species has a very broad range, has a wide variety of wooded habitats across its range, and is regularly encountered in appropriate habitat. It tolerates moderate disturbance and can be found in regenerating woodlands. At present, collection for the plant trade seems to only be at very low levels.
Range Extent Comments
Podophyllum peltatum occurs in eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario, Canada, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Nebraska and Minnesota in the Unites States (FNA 1997). It has been introduced to Europe (POWO 2024) and likely to other parts on the periphery of its range in North America as an escaped cultivar (FNA 1997). Range extent was estimated to be over 2.5 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are more than 3,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Given that Podophyllum peltatum has utility as a medicinal plant, collecting from wild populations for the plant trade is a potential threat to this species. However, this species is not among the high-price medicinal species in the black market (Corbin, pers. comm., 2000), and wild medicinal use of this species may be very limited in scale (Suggs, pers. comm., 2000). As with all native forest herbs, habitat conversion and urban development are significant direct threats (Homoya, pers. comm. 2000, Kunsman pers. comm. 2000, Pearson, pers. comm. 2000, Schafale, pers. comm., 2000). Additional threats to populations in Vermont are extensive logging (although selective logging in the winter would be less damaging) and road widening (NatureServe 2024).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Podophyllum peltatum occurs in "mixed deciduous forest, fields, moist road banks, [and] river banks" (FNA 1997).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedForest EdgeGrassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS3Yes
OntarioS5Yes
New BrunswickSNANo
Nova ScotiaSNANo
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
NebraskaS3Yes
MichiganSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
IllinoisSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
KansasS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
MissouriSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
South CarolinaS5Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
MississippiSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
TexasSNRYes
New JerseyS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
DelawareS5Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MaineSNANo
IowaS5Yes
AlabamaSNRYes
Rhode IslandSNANo
New YorkS5Yes
LouisianaSNRYes
VermontS1Yes
FloridaS1Yes
District of ColumbiaS5Yes
ConnecticutSUYes
KentuckyS5Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknownUnknown
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownUnknown
4.1 - Roads & railroadsUnknownUnknownUnknown
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.2.1 - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)UnknownUnknownUnknown
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (117)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Oakey MountainTalladega National Forest6,129
Arkansas (12)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainOuachita National Forest1,910
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Brush HeapOuachita National Forest4,205
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
Devils CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,877
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Gee CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,957
Indian CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,855
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
Georgia (12)
AreaForestAcres
Ben GapChattahoochee National Forest1,292
Boggs CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,073
Cedar MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,083
Helton CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,348
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Miller CreekChattahoochee National Forest701
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Turner CreekChattahoochee National Forest1,495
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Ripple HollowShawnee National Forest3,788
Indiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mogan RidgeHoosier National Forest8,435
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Louisiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest5,355
Missouri (1)
AreaForestAcres
Spring Creek Rare II Study AreaMark Twain National Forest4,899
New Hampshire (1)
AreaForestAcres
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
North Carolina (21)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Linville Gorge AdditionPisgah National Forest2,809
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Oklahoma (1)
AreaForestAcres
Beech CreekOuachita National Forest8,303
Pennsylvania (3)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
South Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Ellicott Rock 2Sumter National Forest517
Tennessee (11)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Big Laurel Branch AdditionCherokee National Forest5,577
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
London Bridge BranchCherokee National Forest3,387
Rogers RidgeCherokee National Forest4,738
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
Texas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Lye Brook Addition 09085Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,111
Virginia (33)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beartown Addition BJefferson National Forest2,985
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Crawford MountainGeorge Washington National Forest9,892
Dolly AnnGeorge Washington National Forest7,855
Elliott KnobGeorge Washington National Forest9,380
Garden MountainJefferson National Forest3,960
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Hunting Camp Little Wolf CreekJefferson National Forest8,953
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Laurel ForkGeorge Washington National Forest9,967
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Rogers RunJefferson National Forest181
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (12)
AreaForestAcres
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Tea Creek MountainMonongahela National Forest8,295
References (32)
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  2. Blakley, Tim. National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs, Rutland, OH.
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  4. Corbin, Jim. Plant Specialist, NC Department of Agriculture.
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  16. Kunsman, J. Botanist, Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory-East.
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  18. McGuffin, Michael. Personal communication. American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring MD
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  20. Pearson, John. Iowa Heritage Program Botanist.
  21. Penskar, Mike. Personal communication. Botanist, Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Lansing, MI.
  22. Pittillo, J. Dan. Professor, Western Carolina University.
  23. Pittman, Bert. SC Heritage Program Botanist.
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  26. Schotz, Al. Personal Communication. Botanist, Alabama Natural Heritage Program.
  27. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  28. Steinauer, Gerry. Personal Communication. Nebraska Natural Heritage Program Botanist. Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE
  29. Suggs, Robin. Executive Director, Yellow Creek Botanical Institute, Robbinsville, NC.
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