Indian Cucumber Root Medeola virginiana

Other common names: Indian Cucumber Family: Lily Family (Liliaceae), (Lily-of-the-Valley Family (Convallariaceae)) Distinctive features: Whorls of leaves. Yellow flowers hanging down. Similar species:   •   Starflower (Lysimachia borealis) - has small white flowers, not hanging down. Flowers: Summer;  Yellow;  6 parts (petals);  Yellow, small, hanging down. Usually only a few per palnt. Leaves: Simple (smooth-edged), in one or more whorls. Height: 20-40 cm (8-16 in) Stem: Weak and thin. Habitat: Forests;  Open woods and forest. It doesn't like a lot of light, but neither does it like to grow in deep shade. Uses: The tubers (roots) are edible raw. They taste somewhat like cucumber. It's not overly common, so please only harvest it where it is plentiful. Edible: Roots are edible raw or cooked. Taste like cucumber. However, they are very small. Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 352    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 102    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 75    Native/Non-native: Native Status: Locally common. Photography notes: The flowers are sometimes tough to photograph as they are usually draped with spider webs! Origin and Meaning of Names:  Scientific Name: virginiana: of Virginia, Virginian Photographs: 149 photographs available, of which 10 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.