Published: May 21, 2008 04:49 pm            

May brings mayapple season

Q: While walking in the woods this spring , I’ve seen lots of mayapple plants. Could you give some basic information on this plant. Are they poisonous?

J. W., Zionsville



A: This seems to be a good year for mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). The common name mayapple is fitting for this plant, as it generally blooms in May and then forms a yellow-to-red berry that, with a little imagination, can look similar to an apple. Mayapple is a perennial that generally prefers the woods. However, this year, Glenn Nice, Purdue weed diagnostician, has seen several patches of mayapple growing along the sides of roads in open sunlight. This perennial is native to the US and easily identified. These plants generally look like a bunch of umbrellas on the forest floor. One or two leaves are born on a single stalk, and the leaves have five to nine lobes. Flowers can be found in the axis of plants that have two leaves. Flowers are white-to- cream colored with six to nine waxy petals. Mayapple is reported to be a toxic plant. The leaves, stems and roots cannot be eaten. It is toxic to cattle, humans and swine. In the past, mayapple has been used as a medicinal plant. Mayapple is of interest to the pharmaceutical industry because the leaves of mayapple are a source of podophyllotixin, a precursor to the cancer drugs etoposide, teniposide and etopohos, according to Nice.



Q: I’ve read your column but I’ve never seen why ants are on peony buds and flowers.

D. J., Thorntown



A: Peonies have numerous pronunciations. Peenies, pennies, pineys, pea-o'nees and pea'o-nees. However you pronounce them, peonies have been a common Midwestern flower for many years. Their blooms have been used as Memorial Day cut flowers for several generations of Hoosiers. The presence of ants on peony blossoms is neither beneficial nor harmful to the plant. Ants are attracted to the sugary liquid secreted by flower buds. It is a myth that ants are necessary to permit peonies to bloom. Because peonies are so common, we sometimes overlook their beauty. They are hardy, durable, perennial plants with large fragrant flowers. They are one perennial that usually doesn’t need dividing. Give them a sunny location and good drainage and they may bloom well in the same spot for a lifetime. If they fail to bloom, dividing them or a site change may be helpful. A common problem of peonies is the failure to bloom. It may be the result of planting too deeply, immature plants, excess nitrogen, inadequate sunlight, overcrowding, nutrient deficiency, disease problems, competition from roots of nearby plants or late freezes.

Doug Akers is an Extension Educator for the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Agriculture & Natural Resources department. He can be reached at (765) 482-0750.

        

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