The one or two leaves look like umbrellas. The forked stem of the two-leafed plant produces a single flower. It is in the barberry family. The habitat is low moist or dry open woods and thickets. It is located statewide.
Early spring finds the mayapple spiraling up to form a forest floor of umbrella plants.
The plant has either one leaf or it forks midway on the stem producing two leaves. It is the double-leaf plant that flowers and produces the mayapple, or wild lemon as it is often called. This is an easily acquired fruit. While the golden brown tones easily camouflage into the forest floor, once the plant is located, the fruits will be almost directly under it. The raw fruit has a thick flesh that surrounds the many seeds and is particularly sweet.