- Podophyllum
Taxobox
name = "Podophyllum"
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Podophyllum peltatum"
regnum =Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Ranunculales
familia =Berberidaceae
genus = "Podophyllum"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = Six species; see text"Podophyllum" is a genus of six species of
herbaceous perennial plant s in the familyBerberidaceae , native to easternAsia (five species) and easternNorth America (one species,Mayapple "P. peltatum"). They are woodland plants, typically growing in colonies derived from a single root.The stems grow to 30–40 cm tall, with palmately lobed umbrella-like leaves up to 20–40 cm diameter with 3–9 shallowly to deeply cut lobes. The plants produce several stems from a creeping underground
rhizome ; some stems bear a single leaf and do not produce anyflower orfruit , while flowering stems produce a pair or more leaves with 1–8 flowers in the axil between the apical leaves. The flowers are white, yellow or red, 2–6 cm diameter with 6–9 petals, and mature into a green, yellow or red fleshy fruit 2–5 cm long.All the parts of the plant, excepting the fruit, are poisonous. Even the fruit, though not dangerously poisonous, can cause unpleasant indigestion.
The substance they contain (
podophyllotoxin or podophyllin) is used as apurgative and as acytostatic .Posalfilin is a drug containing podophyllin andsalicylic acid that is used to treat theplantar wart .They are also grown as
ornamental plant s for their attractive foliage and flowers.Species
*"
Podophyllum aurantiocaule ". Southwest China (Yunnan).
*"Podophyllum delavayi ". Southwest China.
*"Podophyllum hexandrum ". Western China, Himalaya.
*"Podophyllum peltatum " - Mayapple. Eastern North America.
*"Podophyllum pleianthum ". Central and southeast China.
*"Podophyllum versipelle ". China, Tibet.
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