But the May Apples are out in force - standing like beach umbrellas in colonies all over the forest. Their life is short - in a week or two, one small and lovely white flower will appear underneath the parasol of leaves. That flower morphs into a pulpy, yellow berry (the 'apple') and then they fade and die back for another year.
The May Apple is also known as the Devil's apple, hog apple, Indian apple, umbrella plant, wild lemon, or American mandrake. Native Americans would gather the plant's rhizomes, dry them, grind them to a powder, and then use the powder as a laxative or to get rid of intestinal worms, or as a poultice for skin problems. Don't try this remedy at home, though - the rhizome is the most poisonous part of the plant and you really need to know what you're doing with it. (The FDA rates the use of this plant as "unsafe.")
No wonder all those deer out there leave them alone.
In modern times, the plant is used as a base in some anti-cancer drugs. The berries are the only non-poisonous part of the plant, but I've never even once considered a May apple pie...we just look at them.
The May Apple (or Mayapple) is an Eastern plant - Kansas City is about as far west as they grow. They colonize big areas of the forest through those long, underground rhizomes. There will be a big patch one year, gone the next, but then another colony will have popped up somewhere else.
A nice surprise as you're walking in the woods.
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