In the fertile woodlands of Illinois, Wild Ginger is in full bloom from April to June. This beautiful flower can often go unseen underneath the moist wooded floor with a blanket of velvet kidney-shaped leaves. However underneath an array of these leaves, one will find a flower of the moist delicate nature. This plant is found in the Aristolochiaceae family and all the parts of this plant have a delicate ginger taste.
Physical characteristics
Leaf: Wild Ginger has kidney shaped leaves that closely covers the forest floor where it is abundant. This plant grows on average 6” to 12” tall with branches at ground level that have two basal leaves, which are about 3” long and 4” wide. The leaf can be distinguished by its orbicular shaped with smooth margins and a deep notch at the base.
Flower | Seeds: Unlike most plants, the leaves of Wild Ginger completely cover its beautiful flower. Underneath the dark green leaves are small flowers that are dark red or purple-brown on a short stem. The flower is in full bloom from April to June. Ants disperse seeds by carrying off the edible seed appendages of the flower.
“As a rule, the one thing that a plant flaunts before all the world is a flower, but Wild Ginger reverses this, hides its blossom and instead of seeking sunlight puts it in the shade, almost in the dark” (Adelman, 2011).
Shape: Wild Ginger is found as a ground cover with kidney-shaped leaves.
Stem: The stem is pubescent.
Subjects of this Page:
- Physical characteristics
- Ecological characteristics
- Importance to the ecosystem
- Relationship with other species
- Other interesting facts
ES 203: SPRING FLORA OF THE GREAT LAKES
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