Perennial duck foot

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 7

Perennial duck foot

Duck foot is one of the common names of Podophyllum which is derived from the Greek for foot and leaf, an allusion to the stout leaf stalks possessed by the plant. The species, all perennial herbs, are effective in flower foliage and fruit. Some parts are emetic and poisonous. .

Growth arises from a creeping rootstock in the

form of a forked stem from which emanates the large, lobed leaves. These are either solitary or in pairs. The flowers are cup shaped, not unlike those of the hellebore and the petals and sepals are the same colour. Those of Podophyllum emodi (shown here) vary from white to pale pink and are followed by egg-shaped red fruit which is actually a berry. Another species, pelta-

tom, which is the true socalled May apple by which all the other species are equally identified as, bears unpleasantly scented white flowers and two inch long yellow fruit which is edible only when ripe.

These plants are easily grown, preferring a rich organic medium and partial shade. They flower, in spring and can be propagated from division of the rootstock or from seed.