Trending: mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) — 2390 observations this week
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Phenology
Mayapple carpets the forest floor of nearly every eastern North American woodland in spring, and its mass emergence right now means the shady trails you hike are likely full of these umbrella-leafed plants — some of which produce edible yellow fruits by late summer.
Mayapple is a native wildflower that spreads in large colonies under trees in eastern North American forests. Every spring it pushes up distinctive umbrella-shaped leaves, and hidden beneath paired leaves you can find a single white flower. Thousands of nature lovers spotted and logged it this week, making it one of the most-watched plants on the popular nature app iNaturalist.
Key Findings
2,390 research-grade observations of mayapple were recorded on iNaturalist in a single week
Mayapple ranked among the top trending plant species for the week, indicating peak spring phenology activity
High observation volume suggests broad geographic participation across mayapple's native range in eastern North America
chevron_right Technical Summary
Mayapple is one of the most-observed plants on iNaturalist this week, with 2,390 research-grade sightings logged by citizen scientists across North America. This spring flush of observations reflects peak bloom and leafing season for this native woodland wildflower.
Abstract Preview
mayapple is among the most observed plant species this week with 2390 research-grade observations.
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Podophyllum is a genus of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native from Afghanistan to China, and from southeast Canada to the central and eastern United States. The genus was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.