Medeola virginiana L.

Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber

About plant names...

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.

Identification: 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 configuration is unique. 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. Berries are shiny, purple-blue, almost metallic-looking. 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.

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. In any case, indian cucumber-root is uncommon now, endangered in some areas, so please don’t eat it.

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:

Medeola virginiana at Illinois Wildflowers

Medeola virginiana on Ontario Wildflowers

Medeola virginiana on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Medeola virginiana at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Medeola virginiana on Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

Medeola virginiana on

Medeola virginiana on eFloras

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

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 3½" (14 × 9.4 cm)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

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
≈ 2 × 2" (5.9 × 6 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
≈ 6 × 5" (14 × 13 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
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

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

Medeola virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Sep 2020.

© 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
≈ 5 × 3" (12 × 8.4 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
≈ 10 × 15" (24 × 37 cm)

9/8/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 11 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
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

8/10/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

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

5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 7 × 7" (16 × 16 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
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm)

9/8/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 22 cm)

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

Range:

About this map...