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Medeola virginiana L.

Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassLiliidaeIncludes lilies, orchids, and many others
OrderLilialesIncludes lilies, tulips, trilliums, greenbriars, and others
FamilyLiliaceaeLilly family
GenusMedeolaFor the sorceress Medea, for attributed medicinal uses
Speciesvirginiana“From Virginia”

About plant names...

One of my favorite plants! Indian cucumber-root is a North American native. It is a member of the lily family. Its edible root smells and tastes pretty much like cucumber, hence the name. Everything about this plant is cool! The orderly whorl of leaves near the bottom, its attractive yellow flowers atop a long stalk, the smaller whorl of three leaves near the top, the amazing bright red center of the whorl visible in the fall, and the blue-purple-black berries.

Plants: Indian cucumber-root is up to 8-16″ (20-40 cm) high. About halfway up the bare stem is a whorl of 5 to 9 leaves. Each leaf is 3-5″ (7.6-12 cm) long, and 1-2″ (2.5-5 cm) wide. The leaves are almost completely flat, oriented upward. Then more bare stem, and on most plants a smaller upper whorl with 3 to 5 leaves. This unique configuration of stems and leaves allows for unmistakable identification.

Leaves: Arranged in lower and upper whorls as described above. In the fall, leaves in the upper whorl turn red, but only near the stem; the red color persists even after the leaves turn brown.

Flowers: Yellow flowers ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) around hang downward from the upper whorl. Large red-brown stems project from the backward-curled petals.

Fruits: Berries are shiny, purple-blue, almost metallic in appearance.

Edibility: Indigenous Americans ate the roots of these plants, which have a taste similar to cucumber. However, some sources report that the roots act as a diuretic.

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

Flower (a), berry (b). The edible root is at bottom, left, with a creeper to form a new plant to the right. From The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, 1889; scanned by Clipart ETC.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

Ontario Wildflowers

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

EFloras

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/11/2020 · Cliff Trail, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/4/2023 · Thorne Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 6 × 3½″ (14 × 9.4 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

5/7/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

5/12/2023 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/8/2020 · Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts · By Daniel LaLiberte

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

10/5/2016 · Pine Meadow Conservation Area, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/28/2013 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

10/5/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

Does anyone know what caused the dark-colored leaves? · 8/15/2010 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue Trail, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

The fern is wrapped around an indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana). · 8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

10/5/2016 · Pine Meadow Conservation Area, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/14/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp, Rte. 119, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/7/2016 · Jeff Smith Trail, Jewett St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

6/5/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

 

Medeola virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Oct 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/30/2018 · Miller State Park, Pack Monadnock, Peterborough, New Hamp­shire, United States

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/28/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/25/2019 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

5/11/2021 · Hackett and Minot Trails, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/2/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/8/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

A hartford fern (Lygodium palmatum) is wrapped around the indian cucumber-root. · 8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/29/2015 · Mount Grace, Athol, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook A, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/4/2016 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue T, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/1/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm Main Loop, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 7 × 10″ (16 × 25 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 2½ × 3½″ (6.3 × 9.4 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

6/1/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 6 × 3½″ (14 × 9.6 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/9/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

9/8/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber)

8/9/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Range:

About this map...