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