Monday, January 5, 2015

Indian Cucumber

Medeola virginiana
An attractive perennial, reaching up to 3.5 ( usually under 1.5 ) feet, that is native to moist, rich, deciduous or mixed woodland in eastern North America ( from Minnesota to Sault Ste Marie to Haliburton, Ontario to southeast Quebec to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; south to Arkansas to northern Florida ). It occurred sporadically on the Ohio shore during the 1800s. Older plants may spread to form small colonies. The rhizome can be eaten. It is great for woodland gardens.
The stems bear a whorl of 5 to 10 halfway up, then another 3 leaves at the top. The lance-shaped or elliptical leaves are up to 6 x 2 ( rarely over 4 ) inches in size. The foliage is glossy bright green.
The yellowish flowers are borne late spring into early summer.
They are followed by a rounded, deep purple or black berry up to 0.3 inches wide. Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on fertile, moist, well drained soil.
Propagaton is from seed or root division while dormant.

* photos taken by Mark A. Garland @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* photo taken on Aug 20 2016 in Olney, MD

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