Asarabacca
ExplorePlants
Asarabacca
Asarum europaeum
Asarabacca is a small, green plant that grows close to the ground. It has heart-shaped leaves and pretty, hidden flowers that bloom in spring. This plant loves shady spots in the forest!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Asarabacca has broad, kidney- or heart-shaped leaves that are glossy, dark green, and often mottled with lighter veins. Its small, bell-shaped flowers are a unique reddish-brown to purplish color, typically hidden at ground level beneath its dense foliage.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderPiperalesFamilyAristolochiaceaeGenusAsarum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient people powdered its roots to make a sneezing powder, hoping it would clear their heads!
Even in winter, its glossy green leaves often stay bright, adding color to snowy forests!
If you look closely, you might spot tiny snails hiding inside its bell-shaped flowers!
Its leaves feel smooth and waxy, almost like shiny plastic!
Special abilities
Ability
Hidden Blooms
Asarabacca has discreet, ground-level flowers that protect them from harsh weather and attract specific tiny, crawling pollinators.
Ability
Ant Courier Service
Asarabacca produces seeds with a tasty fat packet, called an elaiosome, which attracts ants to carry and disperse them.
Ability
Shade Master
Asarabacca has broad, dark, evergreen leaves excellent at capturing the dim light in deep forest shade, thriving where others fail.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-15 cm
- Spread
- 20-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
European Red Ant
Myrmica rubra
Ants disperse seeds, helping them spread.
eats
Leopard Slug
Limax maximus
Slugs enjoy nibbling its shiny, dark leaves.
pollinates
Fungus Gnat
Bradysia impatiens
Tiny gnats attracted to its hidden, low-lying flowers.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Wild Ginger
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Asarabacca?
10-15 cm
How wide does Asarabacca spread?
20-30 cm
How big are the flowers on Asarabacca?
1-2 cm
When does Asarabacca bloom?
Spring
Is Asarabacca edible?
No
Is Asarabacca toxic?
High
What is Asarabacca's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Asarabacca pollinated?
Insect
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