Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Walking through woods in spring, you may come upon a large mass of Mayapples, their large, distinctive, umbrella-shaped leaves carpeting the forest floor. Not all plants flower every year but when they do, a solitary creamy-white flower nods between the axil of two leaves. The small fleshy fruit produced is eaten by various animals including box turtles, believed to be the only known agents for distributing the seeds.