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.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
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