Flora of East-Central Indiana

Wild Ginger
Scientific Name Asarum canadense  L. 
Family Name Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort Family)

Characteristics

 

Habitat: prefers constantly moist, acidic soils in heavy shade
Plant Height: 15-30 cm
Flower Color: red/brown
Flower: incomplete; perfect; apetalous (without petals); 2-3 cm wide; 3 connate sepals; hairy; stamens 12; styles 6; inferior ovary  with 6 locules (see cross section); pubescent
Inflorescence: solitary; borne in base of 2 leaves
Fruit: many seeded round capsule
Leaves: pair of basal, pubescent, cordate (heart-shaped) to reniform (kidney-shaped) leaves; 8-12 cm wide at anthesis
Bloom Time: April-May
Origins: native
Other: rhizomes have a ginger-like odor, though not the form of commercial ginger; spreads slowly by rhizomes to form ground cover in shaded areas; rhizomes of the plant were eaten by natives and were believed to have medicinal properties; plant has been studied in cancer research
Asarum_canadense_form.jpg (11177 bytes)

Asarum_canadense_flower.jpg (18737 bytes)

 Asarum_canadense_locules.jpg (4479 bytes)
general habit plant form close of flower cross section of ovary

Native Wildflowers ● Trees, Shrubs&Vines ● Ferns ● Grasses&Allies ● Non-Native Species ●  ECI Flora Home

information provided by

FSEEC
Field Station and
Environmental Education Center
Ball State University, Muncie, IN



comments to:
hbrown@bsu.edu