Sinopodophyllum

Sinopodophyllum is a genus with just one species, hexandrum, which is now agreed to be distinct from the remaining members of Podophyllum. It is a splendid plant for its leaves, flowers and fruit. The flowers are seen first, large, pink, upward facing, one on the top of each leaf stem. Then the leaves unfurl, deeply dissected, marked with purple. Then the flower is replaced by a plum-sized red fruit, so heavy that it hangs down below the leaves, full of large seeds. This is a great plant for a cool, partly shaded border, and will in time make a thick clump. For good measure, it is the source of a important pharmaceutical drug, podophyllin.