Medeola
| Indian Cucumber | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Medeola virginiana | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Liliaceae |
| Tribe: | Medeoleae |
| Genus: | Medeola L. 1753 |
| Species: | M. virginiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Medeola virginiana L. 1753 | |
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| USDA Distribution map[1] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Medeola virginiana or Indian Cucumber is a North American plant species in the lily family.[1][3][4] It is the only currently recognized plant species in the genus Medeola.[5]
Description
Medeola virginiana occurs with either a single tier or two tiers of leaves. The upper tier consists of from three to five whorled leaves on the stem above a lower tier of five to nine (also whorled). Only the two-tiered plants produce flowers which are green-to-yellow and appear from May to June. When two-tiered, it grows up to 30 inches high. The waxy leaves are typically 2.5 inches long and about an inch wide, but can be as long as five inches. The leaves have an entire margin. It typically produces three dark blue to purple, inedible berries above the top tier of leaves in September.[5][6][7]
Use
This plant produces a crisp, edible tuber that smells and tastes like garden cucumber.[8]
Distribution
Medeola virginiana is found from Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, and Louisiana. It grows in rich, moist woods. It is also reportedly naturalized in Bermuda.[2]
It is listed as an endangered plant in Florida and in Illinois.
- formerly included[2]
Several names have been created within the genus referring to species now considered better suited to other genera. We provide links to help you find appropriate information. see Asparagus
- Medeola angustifolia, now called Asparagus asparagoides
- Medeola asparagoides, now called Asparagus asparagoides
- Medeola latifolia, now called Asparagus asparagoides
- Medeola triphylla, now called Asparagus declinatus
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Medeola virginiana at United States Department of Agriculture plants profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ↑ "Medeola virginiana". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- ↑ Medeola virginiana at Connecticut Botanical Society
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Flora of North America v 26 p 150
- ↑ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 339.
- ↑ Gleason, H. A. & A.J. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (ed. 2) i–910. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.
- ↑ A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America by Lee Peterson, Roger Tory Peterson
External links
- Blanchan, Neltje (2002). Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
- Wildflowers of the Southeastern U.S., Indian Cucumber (Medeola virginiana)
- Plants for a Future
- Missouri Botanical Gardening, gardening help
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Medeola virginiana. |
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Wikiversity has bloom time data for Medeola virginiana on the Bloom Clock |
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Edible tuber of the Indian Cucumber-root