Thanks for this information. I have May Apples in my yard but have never seen the friut. I expect the squirrels get to it long before I do. I will have to watch more closely next year. Love your photos they are so helpful.
Mine never did either until I transplanted a bit of root from a different source patch. THEN they all started making apples! It turns out that Mayapples are not self fertile. The pollen of one flower can pollinate the other only if they are distinct individuals. Since one patch are likely all to be the same plant, spread by the roots rather than seeds, they are effectively all genetically identical. They need a NOTHER!
Oh interesting. Yes - mine are all from the same patch that I moved from a wood area years ago. Hmm - may need to check in with a friend with a private woods and see if I can find another genetic family. I had no idea. Thanks for the information.
So fun to see things unknown, other than in books. I am curious about Mayapples being poisonous to humans, but not to animals? Is this some adaptation over thousands of years? I can only picture someone (named Sandy) seeing animals eating them and then trying the fragrant fruit, too. :-( Best to get the word out to children wherever they grow. Still, love that some adventurous humans now make jellies with them. Funny how the scent of pineapple pops-up here and there in our flora. We have a chamomile like plant here in Washington state that is referred to as Pineapple Weed because of it's pineapple scent and flavor. The buds makes a nice cup of tea. Though it looks like chamomile, it is actually from the daisy family.
I think they are poisonous to animals too. Not the ripe fruits, but all the other plants. It's part of the plants' protection. How the deer get away with eating green Mayapple fruits I don't know. Maybe they don't eat a lot at once. Or maybe it gives them a bellyache.
I find the Mayapple such a fascinating plant. And find their plant patches whimsical as it ferries might live under them. Thanks for sharing about the fruit. I like how you bring things in and cut them open to take a closer look. I have been curious why some Mayapples have flowers and others don’t. I have noticed that those that have a branched set of twin leaves have the flower ensconced. Perhaps there are male and female plants? Or maybe just mature and less mature plants? I would have been tempted to taste the fruit, but avoided it as well - no need to get sick.
When the plants are younger they have only one leaf, and a plant with one leaf never makes a fruit. When it is mature enough to make two leaves, then you get one flower and if you're lucky one fruit. The plant never makes more than two leaves. At least none that I've ever seen.
Interesting. I've heard of them in books, but I've never seen them or learned more about them. I think I would have avoided tasting them too. I'm timid with plants that are so toxic. I'd never pick wild mushrooms either.
I remember these well as a younger person, but now live far from their range...they are very neat plants!
Thanks for this information. I have May Apples in my yard but have never seen the friut. I expect the squirrels get to it long before I do. I will have to watch more closely next year. Love your photos they are so helpful.
Mine never did either until I transplanted a bit of root from a different source patch. THEN they all started making apples! It turns out that Mayapples are not self fertile. The pollen of one flower can pollinate the other only if they are distinct individuals. Since one patch are likely all to be the same plant, spread by the roots rather than seeds, they are effectively all genetically identical. They need a NOTHER!
Oh interesting. Yes - mine are all from the same patch that I moved from a wood area years ago. Hmm - may need to check in with a friend with a private woods and see if I can find another genetic family. I had no idea. Thanks for the information.
Good luck with growing a forest of May apples in your forest!
I remember that odor too, from my Illinois years. And like you, was too timid to taste. You made me wish I had.
Yes, isn't it a unique smell? It is such a rough approximation to compare it to pineapple, but we have to compare it to something.
So fun to see things unknown, other than in books. I am curious about Mayapples being poisonous to humans, but not to animals? Is this some adaptation over thousands of years? I can only picture someone (named Sandy) seeing animals eating them and then trying the fragrant fruit, too. :-( Best to get the word out to children wherever they grow. Still, love that some adventurous humans now make jellies with them. Funny how the scent of pineapple pops-up here and there in our flora. We have a chamomile like plant here in Washington state that is referred to as Pineapple Weed because of it's pineapple scent and flavor. The buds makes a nice cup of tea. Though it looks like chamomile, it is actually from the daisy family.
I think they are poisonous to animals too. Not the ripe fruits, but all the other plants. It's part of the plants' protection. How the deer get away with eating green Mayapple fruits I don't know. Maybe they don't eat a lot at once. Or maybe it gives them a bellyache.
These are among my favorites! I always assumed the deer (plentiful near me) ate the fruit, but now that you mention it, it could be raccoons.
Deer are known to eat them. But the deer do the Mayapples no favor. An Ohio study showed that only 1% of the seeds survived the trip through a deer.
I would like to republish this at Bleeding Heartland if you are willing.
Sure Laura. That would be fine.
I find the Mayapple such a fascinating plant. And find their plant patches whimsical as it ferries might live under them. Thanks for sharing about the fruit. I like how you bring things in and cut them open to take a closer look. I have been curious why some Mayapples have flowers and others don’t. I have noticed that those that have a branched set of twin leaves have the flower ensconced. Perhaps there are male and female plants? Or maybe just mature and less mature plants? I would have been tempted to taste the fruit, but avoided it as well - no need to get sick.
When the plants are younger they have only one leaf, and a plant with one leaf never makes a fruit. When it is mature enough to make two leaves, then you get one flower and if you're lucky one fruit. The plant never makes more than two leaves. At least none that I've ever seen.
Interesting. I've heard of them in books, but I've never seen them or learned more about them. I think I would have avoided tasting them too. I'm timid with plants that are so toxic. I'd never pick wild mushrooms either.
It’s fun from the Pacific NW to see what other states have in their forests!
How I would love to see the ancient forests of moss growing in old- growth forest.
We used to make Mayapple jam a la Euell Gibbons back in my Pennsylvania days. Was fun, and kinda tasty...
So you're eaten mayapple jam. How marvelous!
Watched the mayapples grow in the woods and then flower, then the flower turned into fruit which ripened. We picked them and made the jam.