About the Image(s)

Mayapple is a native woodland plant that is widespread across most of eastern North America south to Texas. Podophyllum peltatum is the only species in this genus in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). The upright stems grow from a shallow, creeping, branched underground rhizome, composed of many thick dark or reddish-brown tubers connected by fleshy fibers and downward spreading roots at the nodes. Each terminal bud produces a shoot. Only stems with more than one leaf will flower. Mayapple emerges in early spring before trees produce leaves and then senesces to go dormant by mid-summer. Flowering stems produce solitary flowers in the axil of the two leaves. The nodding, white to rose-colored flowers appear in April or May. Each flower is 2-3 inches wide, with 6 light green sepals, 6 to 9 waxy petals, and twice as many stamens with white filaments and yellow anthers. Pollinated flowers are followed in early summer by fleshy, ovoid to lemon-shaped fruits (a berry) containing several tan seeds. These green “apples” ripen to a golden color, sometimes tinged with pink or purple, later in the summer. Tech stuff: ISO 1100, 200mm focal length, aperture 5, center weighted average metering, use of a macro tube, aperture priority mode, ISO auto. Standard LR and PS processing, then into Topaz Studio for various presets, then back into LR and PS for finishing touches. Once the photo copy was done to my liking, then I imported back into Topaz Studio and applied 4 art presets for painted abstract image.