This is widespread in eastern states. Although most common in woods, Podophyllum is persistent, unpalatable and often survives for decades in open pastured woods or fields. In the central Bluegrass, Short (1828-9) noted: "No portion of the Union affords the May-apple in greater abundance than this, where it is found in profusion in all rich shaded woodlands. The [fruit] is highly grateful to the taste of most persons; its leaves are deletrious and not eaten by any cattle." The plant's rhizome has had much traditional and modern medical uses, but it can be lethally toxic to mammals. It contains "podophyllotoxin" and related lignans, which have various applications to kill cancers and viruses (Hartwell & Schrecker 1958, Ram 2010). More recently, the presence of aporphine alkaloids has been confirmed (Marques et al. 2012).