Wild mandrake, also known as American mandrake, Indian apple and mayapple, is a member of the barberry family that inhabits the woodlands of eastern North America. It is classified as a spring emphemeral, which means that it emerges in early spring and undergoes a furious growth cycle but dies back to the ground when most other forest plants are reaching maturity in mid-summer.
Although all parts of the plant are toxic, Native Americans and early American settlers boiled the root to make topical infusions.
Industrial Use: Mandrake root is used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce wart creams and anticancer drugs.
Mandrake root may be tinctured or decocted to make infusions for topical use.
