Mayapple: original pastel

Mayapples tend to grow in large colonies, where they spread out on the forest floor like a sea of perfectly spaced beach umbrellas. Their one small white bloom basks underneath a huge parasol of two leaves. Immature plants have only one large leaf and no flower. Later in summer the flower matures into a small greenish fruit that is edible in small amounts and has unique medicinal qualities Apparently it is a favorite food of turtles, though I’ve yet to witness this. I have, however, eaten a mayapple, and can imagine that to a turtle it is indeed quite a treat.