Chinese may apple
Dysosma pleiantha

Family: Berberidaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 45 cm high and spreads 30 cm wide. It forms clumps. Each plant has a single stem and one or two large leaves at the top. These have 6-10 shallow lobes. The leaves are umbrella shaped and 30-40 cm wide. The flowers are in a cluster from the axil of the leaf. The flowers are deep red. The fruit are like berries. They can be yellow or red.

The roots have been used as an anticancer agent.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It cannot tolerate frost. It can grow in light shade. It is best in moist acid soil. In southern China it grows between 400-1,600 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-8. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, North America, Taiwan, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are possibly eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. They also spread by rhizomes or underground stems.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Dysosma chengii (J. J. Chien) M. Hiroe; Dysosma hispida (K. S. Hao) M. Hiroe; Podophyllum chengii S. S. Chien; Podophyllum hispidum K. S. Hao; Podophyllum onzoi Hayata; Podophyllum pleianthum Hance;