Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root)

Medeola virginiana L.

Indian cucumber-root, Indian cucumber

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Liliales	Includes lilies, tulips, trilliums, greenbriars, and others
Family	Liliaceae	Lilly family
Genus	Medeola	For the sorceress Medea, for attributed medicinal uses
Species	virginiana	“From Virginia”

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, ME
≈ 7 × 8" (16 × 20 cm)

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

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

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

1/16/2019 · Pine Meadow Conservation Area, Ayer, MA

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

10/5/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 2 × 2" (5.9 × 6.0 cm)

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

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, MA
≈ 6 × 5" (14 × 13 cm)

10/5/2016 · Pine Meadow Conservation Area, Ayer, MA

8/14/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp, Rte. 119, Groton, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

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

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

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

7/10/2019 · Miller State Park, Pack Monadnock, Peterborough, NH, United States

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

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, ME
≈ 5 × 3" (12 × 8.4 cm)

8/25/2019 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, MA

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

6/2/2010 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, MA
≈ 10 × 15" (24 × 37 cm)

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

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

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, ME
≈ 9 × 7" (23 × 16 cm)

A hartford fern (Lygodium palmatum) is wrapped around the indian cucumber-root. · 8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, MA
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

8/29/2015 · Mount Grace, Athol, MA
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

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

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

5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, NH
≈ 7 × 7" (16 × 16 cm)

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

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

8/9/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

9/8/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, NH
≈ 6 × 7" (15 × 16 cm)

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

Range:

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