Podophyllum peltatum

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Podophyllum peltatum
Light:Part Shade Full Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:4
Soil pH:5.6-7.3
Height:1'
Width:1'
Blooms:Late Spring-Early Summer
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Podophyllum peltatum (common name: american mandrake)

Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in a cold frame in early spring. The seed germinates in 1 - 4 months at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least 2 growing seasons. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the winter when the plants are dormant.

Division in March/April[1].

Cultivation: Prefers a moist peaty soil and filtered light or shade[2][1]. Grows well in a moist open woodland[3][4] and also succeeds under beech trees in a deep moist leafy soil[5]. Succeeds in a pH ranging from 4 to 7[6].

A very hardy plant[2], tolerating temperatures down to -15°c or lower when dormant[7], though the young leaves in spring can be damaged by late frosts[8].

Plants in this genus have excited quite a lot of interest for the compounds found in their roots which have been shown to have anti-cancer activity[9]. There are various research projects under way (as of 1990)[9].

The flower has a foul smell[10].

The plant takes some years to become established[9] but is very long lived in a suitable habitat[5] and can become a vigorous colonizer[8].

Range: Eastern N. America - Southern Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.

Habitat: Moist soils in rich woods, thickets and pastures[11][5].

Edibility: Fruit - raw, cooked or made into jams, jellies, marmalades, pies etc[12][13][2][11][14][15]. The fruit can also be dried for later use[16]. The fruit should only be eaten when it is fully ripe[17][18][19], the unripe fruit is strongly laxative[15]. Remove the rind[19]. The fruit is very aromatic[19], and has a peculiar though agreeable flavour[15]. Sweet and acid. Do not eat the seeds[18]. In excess the fruit can cause colic[20][21][22]. The fruit is about 5cm long[23].

Medicinal: American mandrake is a most powerful and useful herbal medicine, exercising an influence on every part of the system and stimulating the glands to healthy action[2]. Its greatest power lies in its action on the liver and bowels[2]. It is a gastro-intestinal irritant, a powerful hepatic and intestinal stimulant[2]. Although often used internally in the past, the plant's cytotoxic action makes it an unsafe remedy for internal use[24].

The root is antibilious, cathartic, cytostatic, hydrogogue and purgative[2][25][26][27][28][9][29]. The plant contains podophyllin, which has an antimiotic effect (it interferes with cell division and can thus prevent the growth of cells). It is, therefore, a possible treatment for cancer, and has been used especially in the treatment of ovarian cancer[26][30][27][28][21][9][31]. However, alopecia is said to be a common side-effect of this treatment[31]. The root is most active medicinally in early spring when it is beginning to shoot[2].

The resin, which is obtained from the root[32], is used in the treatment of warts and has been found to be effective against uterine warts that are sometimes experienced in pregnancy[23][29]. It is also used in the treatment of small-cell carcinoma[32].

The root is harvested in the autumn and either dried for later use or the resin is extracted[6]. The whole plant, apart from the ripe fruit, is highly poisonous and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[6]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[6]. Large doses have been used to commit suicide[33].

A homeopathic remedy is obtained from the fresh root, harvested before the fruit is ripe[10]. This is used particularly in the treatment of diarrhoea[10].

Usage: An infusion of the boiled leaves has been sprayed on potato plants to protect them from insects[33]. Other reports suggest that it is insecticidal rather than repellent[6][16].

The root ooze has been used to soak corn seed prior to planting it out in order to prevent it being eaten by crows or insects[16].

Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

In Leaf: Mid Spring-Mid Fall

Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: The leaves and the roots are very poisonous[12][2][25][18][29].

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  3. ↑ Knight, F. P.. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
  4. ↑ Brown, George. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society, 1982.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  7. ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Royal Horticultural Society. The Garden Volume 113. Royal Horticultural Society, 1988.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Castro, Miranda. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan, 1990.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  13. ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  14. ↑ Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
  17. ↑ Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Elias, Thomas. A Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1982.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Saunders, Charles. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1976.
  20. ↑ Douglas, James. Alternative Foods.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
  22. ↑ McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  24. ↑ Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Stary, Frantisek. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn, 1983.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Howes, Frank. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Chronica Botanica, 1949.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  30. ↑ Polunin, Oleg and Adam Stainton. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press, 1984.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.


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