Description
Podophyllum versipelle is endemic to China and has remained very little known over the years. It has a 40-70cm tall stem with one large (20-50cm) umbrella leaf (rarely two) deeply cut into 6-8 lobes. Underneath hang 2-15 rounded flowers of very deep purple- to garnet-red, with crinkled tips to the petals, all set around a paler madder-pink interior.
The flowers (produced in a cluster under one of the leaves) flare open with age, to reveal the inner battery of yellow anthers, and as they mature in succession, the cluster usually has open 3-7 blooms and thus lasts for a long time. I have noticed that the flowers are ‘scented’ of corned-beef!
Strong plants, established here in a light leafy soil in humid shade and seeding well from clustered, damson-like fruits.
The rhizome becomes large, deep-seated and very drought resistant with time. A splendid accent plant. (Ours are subspecies versipelle, with hairy pedicels)
