



Medeola virginiana
Cucumber root is a special plant that grows in the woods. It has a unique, tasty root that some people like to eat. The leaves are long and green, making it look very pretty in nature.
Habitat: Forests
The Cucumber Root has a slender, upright stem and distinct whorled leaves arranged in two tiers. Its lower whorl holds 5-9 broad, elliptical leaves, while the upper tier contains 3-5 smaller, narrower ones. Small, greenish-yellow flowers are followed by dark blue-purple berries.




Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Cucumber Root has a surprise! It changes color to deep red in the fall!
Its root actually tastes a bit like cucumber, which is how it got its name!
Native Americans once used its starchy roots as a potato-like food.
This plant's leaves grow in two perfect circles, one above the other!
Cucumber Root has an edible tuberous root that helps it store energy and survive winter.
Cucumber Root has two distinct whorls of leaves that help it efficiently capture sunlight in the shaded forest understory.
Cucumber Root produces dark blue-purple berries that attract birds, helping disperse its seeds far and wide.

Odocoileus virginianus
browses on its leaves

Turdus migratorius
eats its blue-purple berries
Bombus impatiens
visits its small flowers

Acer saccharum
grows in its shade
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always ask an adult before touching or eating any wild plants.
30-70 cm
15-30 cm
1-2 cm
May-July
Yes
None
Perennial
Insect
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