Mayapple

Here's a plant that's out about now, generally in wooded areas, the Mayapple. It's basically a mid-spring wildflower, never the first to show up, but probably gone by the time summer rolls around.

The plant is almost entirely poisonous, though it sounds like you may be able to eat the fruit when it ripens to yellow. That doesn't prevent the plant from being used in Native American and folk medicine, but it's still not a good idea to eat it. It's got a neat looking flower, though it's not in my picture; bumblebees give it good grades for pollen/nectar.

April 29, 2021 at Washington Valley Park
Photo 128319557, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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