Since the adults are always concerned that their children should stay away from the mayapple for its toxicity, the innocent children are made to believe that the plant is looked after by the devil. It is important to note here that while the matured mayapple fruit is edible and many even prepare jellies and juices with it, the plant's roots, leaves, seeds as well as the raw fruits are all said to be toxic. On the other hand, when translated into English, the term peltatum means 'shield-like'. Mayapple owes its Latin name to the Greek words podos and phyllon denotating foot-shaped leaves. has listed the use of mayapple as 'unsafe' owing to its potent purgative (a substance used for removal of bowels) measures. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. Despite being used to treat various disorders that range from liver problems to cancer, mayapple is still best known for its advantages as a laxative. Soon after harvesting, the rhizomes are dried and pulverized into fine particles. This part of the plant is of medicinal use and is harvested in autumn when the plants die down. Mayapple has a clambering rhizome or tuber that is as thin as a pencil and grows up to six feet. According to a 19th century botanist, mayapple fruits are useless and tasted syrupy something, according to him, was a favorite with small boys, pigs and raccoons (a small animal with grayish black fur, black patches around the eyes, and a long bushy ringed tail usually found in north and central America). Incidentally, though it is said to be tasteless, many people eat the mayapple fruits even today. The North American Indians also ate the mayapple fruits - the lone part of the herb that is not toxic.

It may be mentioned here that there are reports that some of these Indians even consumed the mayapple with a view to commit suicide. It seems that the North American Indians had recognized the herb's toxic or noxious properties. They used the herb to cure worms in the intestines, warts ( moles) and sometimes also as an insecticide for their crops. In fact, the North American Indians were familiar with mayapple plant and appreciated the plant's laxative (substances that promote bowel movements, either by irritating the lower colon or by bulking the stool) properties. The mayapple plants are found in abundance in the woodlands and hence the umbrella-like leaves are common in these areas. The mayapple plant bears fruits that are small and yellow in color. The plant has a chunky rhizome or tuber that is reddish brown in color. The plant bears leaves of which one or two open out like an umbrella and has only one white flower that blossoms below the leaves. Mayapple is a perennial herb that is normally between one to two feet in height.

May apple color