Podophyllum

Leaves and flowers of Podophyllum hexandrum.

The Fußblätter ( Podophyllum ), sometimes Maiäpfel (although in no way the fruits are ripe in May, but usually in the summer or autumn) called, are a genus of flowering plants in the family of Barberry ( Berberidaceae ). The botanical genus name Podophyllum is pous from the Greek words, podos Foot and phyllon ( φ_λλον ) derived for sheet. The drug from the " rhizome " is Rhizoma Podophylli.

Description

The Podophyllum grow as deciduous, perennial herbaceous plants that reach heights of growth from 20 to 60 cm. All vegetative plant parts: stems, leaves and rhizomes are poisonous. All plant parts are usually smooth or hairy at most sparsely fluffy. The roots are thick and fibrous. Depending on the type, short to long, branched, creeping rhizome formed as outlasting, they act grained by their annual growth and form each year a sterile ( flowerless ) or fertile ( flowering and fruiting ) stems. The sterile stems have only a leaf and the most fertile two ( zero to three ) exchange constant to almost constant against leaves. The stalked, deciduous leaves are simple or divided. The more or less upright petioles act of stalk -like. The renal, circular or shield-shaped leaf blades are 10-38 cm tall. If the leaf blades are not easy then they can have up to seven lobes. The leaf margin is smooth, toothed or serrated. Sometimes initially hang down the lobes and the leaves then act like umbrellas.

On each fertile stems are usually terminally only one, rarely two, pedunculated, large flowers. There are no bracts present. The hermaphroditic, radial symmetry, and threefold flowers have a diameter of about 3 to 5 cm. There are six white to pale green sepals present. The six to nine showy petals are white or pink. There are the same or twice as many stamens as petals present. In each flower only one carpel is present with many ovules. The large scar is shield-shaped.

The berries are ripe yellow with maroon color over orange to red or and contain 20 to 50 seeds. The yellow through orange to red or maroon, inverted egg-shaped seeds of a fleshy, yellow or rarely chestnut -colored aril (or from Pulp ) wrapped.

Use, important ingredients and effects

Few species are used as ornamental plant. Several species is reported that the ripe fruits are eaten raw.

Both the American way as well as some Asian species are used as medicinal plants. Except for the ripe berry all other parts of the plant are poisonous. The dried, " rhizome ", the underground plant parts ( rhizome and roots) contain lignans podophyllotoxin, Fußblattharz ( podophyllin ), flavonoids and plant gum. The most important part is the resin ( podophyllin, podophyllotoxin pure substance ) that forms after drying. The pharmaceutical drug has cytostatic, antimikotische and virus- static effects. Podophyllin is effective in the removal of genital warts. Due to risk of poisoning (eg, the treated area may not be larger than 25 cm2, etc.) is to be a treatment only under medical supervision. Caution should also be exercised when prescribing podophyllin resins since they are derived from different species that have different concentrations of the ingredients.

Systematics and distribution

The foot blade types are mainly in the eastern Asia; only one type is native to eastern ( Atlantic ) North America. They thrive mainly in shady forests.

The genus name Podophyllum was published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 505. Podophyllum belongs to the subtribe Epimediinae from the Berber tribe ideae in the subfamily Berberidoideae within the family of Barberry ( Berberidaceae ). Synonyms for Podophyllum L. are: Dysosma Woodson, Sinopodophyllum TSYing.

Some authors Podophyllum hexandrum Royle as Sinopodophyllum hexandrum ( Royle ) Ying or Sinopodophyllum emodi ( wall. ex Honigberger ) TSYing in its own monotypic genus Sinopodophyllum TSYing in Acta Phytotax. Sin. , 17 (1 ), 1979, p.15 provided. In the former Dysosma species, it is widely agreed that they belong to the genus Podophyllum. ( Advisory Committee on Nomenclature & Taxonomy on 24 February 2009 at RHS Garden Wisley. )

The genus Podophyllum is divided into four sections. There are about ( six - only if the Dysosma - styles are not included ) twelve Podophyllum species (complete style list from GRIN):

• Section Dysosma: With about ten species (some with several subspecies and varieties ): These species occur only in China, Taiwan and Vietnam before: Podophyllum delavayi Franch. Only in China located in the provinces of Guizhou, southern Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.
• Podophyllum difforme Hemsl. & EHWilson: Only in China located in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan. It is used as an ornamental plant.
• Podophyllum glaucescens JMHShaw: It is endemic to China's Guangxi province.
• Podophyllum guangxiensis ( YSWang ) JMHShaw: It is endemic to China's Guangxi province.
• Podophyllum hemsleyi JMHShaw & Stearn: It is endemic in southern Hubei.
• Podophyllum mairei Gagnep. Secured known only from Yunnan.
• Podophyllum majoense Gagnep. Only in China located in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei and Sichuan.
• Podophyllum pleianthum Hance ( Syn: Dysosma pleiantha ( Hance ) Woodson ): The home of the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Zhejiang; and Taiwan. It is used as an ornamental plant.
• Podophyllum trilobulus JMHShaw: It is endemic to China's Sichuan province.
• Podophyllum versipelle Hance: The home of the Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan; and Vietnam.

• Section hexandra, with only one type: Himalayan foot blade or Himalayan Mayapple ( Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, Syn: Podophyllum emodi Wall ex Honigberger, Sinopodophyllum emodi ( wall. ex Honigberger ) TSYing. ): It is Resident in eastern Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, northern India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan and Sikkim.

• Section Paradysosma, with only one type: Podophyllum aurantiocaule Hand. - Mazz. (. Syn: Dysosma aurantiocaulis ( Hand. - Mazz ) Hu, Dysosma tsayuensis Ying ): home are the Chinese provinces of southeastern Xizang and Yunnan; Bhutan, India, Sikkim and northeastern Myanmar.

• Section Podophyllum, with only one type: Shield-shaped foot blade or shield -shaped Mayapple ( Podophyllum peltatum ), other common names: American Mayapple, American foot blade, Common Mayapple, Bush Appel, Duck Foot, Schildprummel, Wild Lime: History is the eastern North America. It is used as an ornamental plant.

Pictures

Shield-shaped foot blade ( Podophyllum peltatum ):

Habit and flowering.

The single standing flower.

An immature fruit.

Swell

The information in this article originate from the following sources:

• Lisa O'Rourke George: Berberidaceae in the Flora of North America, Volume 3: Podophyllum - Online.
• SMH Jafri: Podophyllaceae in the Flora of Pakistan: Podophyllum - Online.