Podophyllum peltatum: Umbrella Leaf Charm of Mayapples in Spring

Summary: Podophyllum peltatum is a New World perennial found in woodlands. Mayapples appear with umbrella-like leaves in spring, flower in May, and fruit in August.

"Mayapple plant with lone flower": Velocicaptor, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Except for ripe fruits, which may be consumed raw or, preferably, cooked, in delicate moderation, all parts of mayapples are considered toxically inedible as food sources.

As a therapeutic remedy mayapples have been used judiciously in Native American ethnobotany primarily for elimination as an anthelmintic (Ancient Greek: ἕλμινς, hélmins, “intestinal worm”), an emetic (Ancient Greek: ἔμετος, émetos, “vomit”), and a laxative.

Some tribes, such as the Lenape in the Delaware River watershed and the Penobscot in Maine, treated venereal warts with a topical remedy of crushed rhizomes, which contain podophyllin, a resin effective in stopping cell growth.

Mayapples cluster charmingly as a rare planned planting in my yard. The stalwart sextet represents runaways from woodland settings that were rescued from dusty roadsides.

In April, they always seem to emerge fully grown in the north terrace, between the prim silver maple (Acer saccharinum) to their west and the exuberant box elder (Acer negundo) to their east. With their distinctive umbrella-like leaves, they demurely trail along the western arc of blue rocks encircling the kalanchoe (Kalanchoe ssp.) shade garden.

Although mayapples do not bloom as early spring flowers, they shuffle distinctively across the spring landscape, carpeting forest floors and meadows with their unassumingly effective solidarity.

closeup of mayapple's flower; Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Graham County, western North Carolina; Friday, April 20, 2012, 14:15:14: Buddha Dog, CC BY SA 2.0 Generic, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

"Mayapple plant with lone flower": Velocicaptor, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PoisonousMayApple099.jpg

closeup of mayapple's flower; Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Graham County, western North Carolina; Friday, April 20, 2012, 14:15:14: Buddha Dog, CC BY SA 2.0 Generic, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/70278809@N00/6979402998/

For further information:

Moerman, Daniel E. Native American Medicinal Plants: An Ethnobotanical Dictionary. Portland OR: Timber Press, 2009.

Muscari armeniacum: Miniature Blue or Purple Beauty of Grape Hyacinth

Summary: Muscari armeniacum, known commonly as grape hyacinth, is a petite, Old World bulbous plant prized for its dense clusters of blue-to-purple fragrant flowers.

Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum), Oshakan, Aragatsotn province, western Armenia: Raffi Kojian of Armeniapedia.org, May be used for any purpose provided that the copyright holder is properly attributed, via Wikimedia Commons

Muscari armeniacum is an Old World bulbous plant in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Muscari armeniacum is native to Eurasia, from the Mediterranean region (southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor) to the Caucasus Mountains.

German horticulturist and plant collector Maximilian Leichtlin (Feb. 17, 1831-Jan. 19, 1910) is credited with bringing Muscari armeniacum into cultivation in 1876.

Muscari armeniacum is known commonly in English as Armenian grape hyacinth or grape hyacinth.

Grape hyacinth is a petite plant that ranges in height from 6 to 12 inches (15.24 to 30.48 centimeters). The Old World bulbous plant usually spreads proportionately in the same range of 6 to 12 inches (15.24 to 30.48 centimeters).

One to three leafless flower stalks, known as scapes, emerge from a somewhat globular, no-care, winter-hardy bulb.

Bright green, strap-shaped leaves grow as basal clumps to present slender silhouettes, with lengths generally ranging from 6 to 9 inches (15.24 to 22.86 centimeters) and with a width of around one-fourth of an inch (0.635 centimeters).

Flowers open in dense, conical racemes (Latin: racemus, “cluster of grapes”) by the end of March or the beginning of April. A faint, sweet fragrance wafts from the bell- or urn-shaped flowers. Showy flowers favor coloring of deep cobalt blue or vibrant purple but also appear in varieties as pale pink or white.

Grape hyacinth performs admirably in indoor and outdoor plantings.

Container gardening offers a plethora of opportunities for showcasing the miniature beauty in demure or elegant settings.

Despite its petite stature, grape hyacinth stands out in beds and borders in an array of garden styles, from cottage to rock to woodland.

Grape hyacinth dazzles in mass plantings, such as the famous Blue River in Keukenhof Park in Lisse, South Holland province, northwestern Netherlands.

The Royal Horticultural Society, founded in London, England, in 1804, has recognized grape hyacinth as an excellent garden performer by bestowing its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) on: Muscari armeniacum in 1993; Muscari armeniacum 'Christmas Pearl' in 2003; and Muscari armeniacum 'Saffier' in 2003.

Muscari armeniacum propagates through its bulbs and via seed dispersal. A few springs ago grape hyacinth announced its unexpected, wild appearance at the north end of the narrow garden bed along the south section of my front porch.

Muscari armeniacum foliage limped from underneath almost 20 inches (50.8 centimeters) of snow that smothered my yard in the three brutal snowfalls of late winter 2015. Despite stunted growth, 13 stems have produced delicate, dense floral clusters that opened Tuesday, April 7,  in deep blueness. One dwarf stem is topped with a super-miniaturized trio of three determined flowers.

Whether blooming abundantly or sparsely, grape hyacinth flowers prettify the landscape.

'Pink Sunrise' is a pale pink cultivar of Muscari armeniacum; Saturday, April 6, 2013, 07:56:58: Takashi .M (ai3310X), CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Wild Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum), Oshakan, Aragatsotn province, western Armenia: Raffi Kojian of Armeniapedia.org, May be used for any purpose provided that the copyright holder is properly attributed, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muscari_armeniacum.jpg

'Pink Sunrise' is a pale pink cultivar of Muscari armeniacum; Saturday, April 6, 2013, 07:56:58: M's photography (ai3310X) [Takashi .M], CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/93277085@N08/8622559473/

For further information:

Marriner, Derdriu. "Grape Hyacinth: Pretty Blue or Purple Palette of Muscari armeniacum." Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 9, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/02/muscari-armeniacum-miniature-blue-or.html

Hyacinthus orientalis: Fragrant and Vibrant Spring Flowers of Garden Hyacinth

Summary: Hyacinthus orientalis, commonly known as Dutch hyacinth, or garden hyacinth, is an Old World native that is cultivated globally as an early spring bloomer.

Hyacinthus orientalis; Friday, March 21, 2008, 14:39: Lukas Kaffer (S.lukas), CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons

Hyacinthus orientalis is an Old World perennial in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, native to western Asia.

Hyacinthus orientalis especially claims exotic homelands in Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

Introduced into Europe around the sixteenth century, Hyacinthus orientalis has gained worldwide popularity for cultivation in containers and in-ground gardens as a fragrant, vibrant early spring bloomer.

Hyacinthus orientalis is known commonly as common hyacinth, Dutch hyacinth and garden hyacinth.

Garden hyacinth sprouts from a cream- or light purple-colored bulb.

Foliage grows as strap-shaped, basal leaves.

The stem of Hyacinthus orientalis emerges as a spike amidst the leafy greenery.

The stiff stem is laden with sessile (Latin: sessilis, "resting on the surface, sitting") flowers that unfurl directly from the stem rather than attach to the stem by way of a pedicel (Latin: pediculus, "footstalk, little foot"), or stalk.

Flowers open with tubular grace, ending in six recurving petals. The fragrant, showy flowers present a pleasing palette of colors, including various shades of blue, pink, purple, red, white or yellow.

Spent flowers should be removed immediately to discourage seed production.

In the wild, seed dispersal may be accomplished through myrmecochory (Ancient Greek: μύρμηξ, múrmēks, “ant”), that is, by way of ants. In this symbiotic ant-plant relationship, ants feed elaiosome (Ancient Greek: ἔλαιον, élaion, “olive oil” + σόμα, sóma, “body”), a fleshy, white structure attached to the black seeds, to their larvae and assign the seeds to a waste disposal area where the seeds germinate.

Garden hyacinth's bulb contains oxalic acid, which provokes skin irritations and toxic, possibly fatal, reactions such as diarrhea and vomiting in humans.

Wearing gloves and washing hands afterward are urged for handling garden hyacinth's bulbs.

Mammals and pets may become seriously ill from unknowingly consuming hyacinth bulbs, which they normally avoid.

The Royal Horticultural Society, founded in London, England, in 1804, has bestowed its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which recognizes excellence in garden performance, upon 21 cultivars of Hyacinthus orientalis.

In 1993, seven cultivars received the award: ‘Anna Marie,’ ‘Blue Jacket,’ ‘City of Haarlem,’ ‘Delft Blue,’ ‘Gipsy Queen,’ ‘L’Innocence’ and ‘Ostara'.

In 2008, eight cultivars were recognized: ‘Blue Festival,’ ‘Hollyhock,’ ‘Jan Bos,’ ‘Miss Saigon,’ ‘Paul Hermann,’ ‘Pink Festival,’ ‘White Festival’ and ‘Yellow Queen.'

In 2012, six cultivars were honored: ‘Aida,’ ‘Chicago,’ ‘Dynasty,’ ‘Fairy White,’ ‘Pink Angel’ and ‘Royal Navy.’

Wild hyacinths grace the north side of the box elder tree (Acer negundo) that arches across the curving, gravel driveway onto my yard. Twelve spikes soften spring's green vivacity with deep, gentle blues. One spike bears 10 flowers while eight flowers apiece adorn 10 spikes. The shortest spike proudly lifts up three budding trumpets.

garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), gouache on vellum by Hamburg flower painter Hans-Simon Holtzbecker (1610/20-March 21, 1671); Gottorfer Codex, vol. 1 (1649-1659): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Hyacinthus orientalis; Friday, March 21, 2008, 14:39: Lukas Kaffer (S.lukas), CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyacinthus_orientalis_(S.lukas).JPG

garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), gouache on vellum by Hamburg flower painter Hans-Simon Holtzbecker (1610/20-March 21, 1671); Gottorfer Codex, vol. 1 (1649-1659): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gc20_hyacinthos_orientalis.jpg

For further information:

Chapman, Baylor. The Plant Recipe Book. New York NY: Artisan, 2014.

Marriner, Derdriu. "Early Spring Colors in the Yard: Blue, Lavender, Purple, Yellow." Wizzley > Plants & Gardening > Plants. April 13, 2014.
Available @ https://wizzley.com/early-spring-colors-in-the-yard-blue-lavender-purple-yellow/