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Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

✅ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Secure in Ontario (S5) but Vulnerable in Quebec (S3), where populations are concentrated around the Montreal area (Mont Royal, Oka, Brossard). Not listed under SARA. Quebec populations are at the northern edge of the species' range, confined to rich deciduous forests in the St. Lawrence lowlands.

S22+S54+S26

Rarity Ranks

QC S3 – Vulnerable, ON S5 – Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Characteristic herb of rich mesic deciduous forests, especially sugar maple-beech woods, where it forms large clonal colonies on loamy soils with abundant organic matter. In Quebec, documented primarily from the Montreal area (Mont Royal, Oka) in maple-hemlock and maple-hickory forests. Also found in shaded fields, woodland openings, and moist roadbanks.

S10+S7+S54

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Ground cover, Insecticide

S29 ground cover landscape use, insecticidal root extract; S28 Cherokee used root ooze as insecticide for corn

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Anthelmintic, Cathartic, Dermatological Aid, Purgative, Antitumor, Laxative, Tonic

S28 Cherokee, Delaware, Iroquois categories; S29 cytostatic, cancer treatment

Notes

One of the most extensively documented medicinal plants in Indigenous pharmacopoeia. Root contains podophyllotoxin and related lignans (alpha- and beta-peltatin) with demonstrated antimitotic and antitumor activity; derivatives are used clinically to treat certain cancers. Cherokee used root as anthelmintic, cathartic, and dermatological aid for ulcers and sores. Iroquois employed root decoctions as laxative and strengthener. Delaware used roots as spring tonic. Resin from root applied externally for wart removal. Whole plant apart from ripe fruit is highly toxic and should only be used under qualified supervision.

S28+S29+S31

Edibility & Foraging

ℹ

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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✅ Edible   

Foraging Notes

Ripe fruit eaten raw or made into jams, jellies, and marmalades by Cherokee, Chippewa, and Iroquois peoples. Flavor described as sweet and acid, very aromatic, resembling an overripe melon. Fruit about 5 cm long, must be fully ripe (yellow and soft); unripe fruit is strongly laxative. Seeds should not be eaten; excess consumption may cause colic. Iroquois also dried fruit into cakes for storage and hunting provisions.

S28+S29+S10

Toxicity

☠️ High Toxicity

All parts except ripe fruit are highly toxic, containing podophylloresin, alpha-peltatin, and beta-peltatin. Cornell lists cattle, humans, and swine as most often affected. Symptoms include severe GI irritation (salivation, vomiting, diarrhea), headache, fever, excitement, and potentially coma or death. Root contains podophyllotoxin at 7000-12000 ppm in rhizome. Large doses have been used to commit suicide. Even the ripe fruit may be mildly toxic in excess, causing colic.

S38+S4+S29+S31

Seed Source

• OWSL