Medeola virginiana L.

Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber

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.

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

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

EFloras

8/11/2020 · Cliff Trail, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 6 × 8" (16 × 20 cm)

9/4/2023 · Thorne Head Preserve, Bath, Maine
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 13 cm)

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 4½ × 3½" (11 × 9.4 cm)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 27 cm)

5/7/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4½ × 5" (11 × 13 cm)

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

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

8/28/2013 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 6" (16 × 14 cm)

10/5/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 1¾ × 2" (4.9 × 5.1 cm)

Does anyone know what caused the dark-colored leaves? · 8/15/2010 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue Trail, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 11 × 9" (26 × 21 cm)

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 6" (12 × 14 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

8/14/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp, Rte. 119, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

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

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

Medeola virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 3½" (15 × 9.2 cm)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 4½ × 4½" (11 × 12 cm)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 8.4 cm)

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

5/11/2021 · Hackett and Minot Trails, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 3 × 3½" (8.5 × 9.5 cm)

8/2/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 9 × 10" (23 × 24 cm)

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 14" (20 × 36 cm)

9/8/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 13 cm)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 10 cm)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 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)

8/29/2015 · Mount Grace, Athol, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)

8/10/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook A, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

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

9/1/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm Main Loop, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm)

5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 6" (15 × 15 cm)

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

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

8/9/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 11 cm)

9/8/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 7" (15 × 18 cm)

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

Range:

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