mayapple
mayapple Lexical Profile
mayapple Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A herbaceous woodland plant (Podophyllum peltatum) native to the eastern United States and Canada, featuring large, umbrella-like lobed leaves and a solitary white flower.
"During our spring hike through the deciduous forest, we spotted a dense patch of mayapples unfurling their umbrella-shaped leaves."
North American The edible, lemon-yellow fruit of the mayapple plant, which ripens in late summer and can be safely consumed despite the severe toxicity of the plant's roots and leaves.
"The local foragers wait patiently until August to harvest the fleshy mayapples to make sweet, wild preserves."
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the 1730s in American English, combining 'May' (the month of its typical blooming) and 'apple' (referring to the rounded shape of its fruit).