Practical
Plants

Podophyllum peltatum

American Mandrake

a perennial member of the Podophyllum genus in the family Podophyllaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and the roots are very poisonous[1][24][9][30][15].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw, cooked or made into jams, jellies, marmalades, pies etc[1][10][24][25][2][7]. The fruit can also be dried for later use[21]. The fruit should only be eaten when it is fully ripe[28][30][33], the unripe fruit is strongly laxative[7]. Remove the rind[33]. The fruit is very aromatic[33], and has a peculiar though agreeable flavour[7]. Sweet and acid. Do not eat the seeds[30]. In excess the fruit can cause colic[14][32][6]. The fruit is about 5cm long[11].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[24]. Its greatest power lies in its action on the liver and bowels[24]. It is a gastro-intestinal irritant, a powerful hepatic and intestinal stimulant[24]. Although often used internally in the past, the plant's cytotoxic action makes it an unsafe remedy for internal use[20]. The root is antibilious, cathartic, cytostatic, hydrogogue and purgative[24][9][26][29][31][4][15]. 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][27][29][31][32][4][19]. However, alopecia is said to be a common side-effect of this treatment[19]. The root is most active medicinally in early spring when it is beginning to shoot[24]. The resin, which is obtained from the root[12], is used in the treatment of warts and has been found to be effective against uterine warts that are sometimes experienced in pregnancy[11][15]. It is also used in the treatment of small-cell carcinoma[12]. The root is harvested in the autumn and either dried for later use or the resin is extracted[18]. The whole plant, apart from the ripe fruit, is highly poisonous and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[18]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[18]. Large doses have been used to commit suicide[13]. A homeopathic remedy is obtained from the fresh root, harvested before the fruit is ripe[16]. This is used particularly in the treatment of diarrhoea[16].

Product or use
Antibilious
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Cytostatic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Hydrogogue
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Warts
Product or use
Women's complaints

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the boiled leaves has been sprayed on potato plants to protect them from insects[13]. Other reports suggest that it is insecticidal rather than repellent[18][21]. 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[21].

Product or use
Insecticide

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Southern Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.
Habitat
Moist soils in rich woods, thickets and pastures[25][5].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moist peaty soil and filtered light or shade[24][3]. Grows well in a moist open woodland[22][23] and also succeeds under beech trees in a deep moist leafy soil[5]. Succeeds in a pH ranging from 4 to 7[18]. A very hardy plant[24], tolerating temperatures down to -15°c or lower when dormant[8], though the young leaves in spring can be damaged by late frosts[17]. 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[4]. There are various research projects under way (as of 1990)[4]. The flower has a foul smell[16]. The plant takes some years to become established[4] but is very long lived in a suitable habitat[5] and can become a vigorous colonizer[17].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. RHS. The Garden. Volume 113. Royal Horticultural Society 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society 1982-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  9. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩1↩2

  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  12. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  13. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  14. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

    ↩

  15. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  18. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  19. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2

  20. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  21. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  22. Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-900629-78-9

    ↩

  23. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩

  24. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  25. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  26. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  27. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

    ↩

  28. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩

  29. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩1↩2

  30. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  31. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2

  32. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩1↩2

  33. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

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