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.
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.
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)
6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)
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)
10/5/2016 · Pine Meadow Conservation Area, Ayer, Massachusetts
9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
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)