BIRTHWORT FAMILY 



ARISTOLOCHIACEAE 



WILD GINGER 



Asarum canadense L. 



Many people have tramped the woods for years with- 

 out seeing the flower of the Wild Ginger, yet this plant is 

 quite common throughout our state and its flower is 

 relatively large and pretty. However, the 

 flower is seldom seen because it is produced 

 so close to the ground that it is hidden be- 

 neath leaves and for- 

 est debris. 



This plant is easily 

 transplanted and grows 

 well in rich soil in shady 

 places, spreading b>' 

 means of a brown or 

 greenish brown under- 

 ground stem. It is found 

 throughout the states bor- 

 dering the Mississippi river, south to 

 Missouri, and the eastern states, south to 

 North Carolina. 



In spring 2 long-petioled kidney-shaped 

 leaves arise from the rootstock, become 

 5-7 inches broad and remain green through 

 the summer. The stem has a strong odor 

 of ginger when broken or bruised. 



The flower blooms in April or May but 



has no corolla. The 3-lobed calyx is grown fast to the ovary and 



is purplish green on the outside and rich brownish purple or 



chocolate color within. The filaments of the 12 stamens are 



slender and extend beyond the short anthers, terminating in 



sharp points. They adhere above to the column, of 6 united 



styles, and their bases expand below into a case that encloses 



the ovary. The ovary is 6-celled and matures into a capsule 



containing many seeds. 



The Short-lobed Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense L. var. reflexutn 

 (Bicknell) Robinson, is almost a duplicate of the species but the calyx 

 segments are short, deltoid and almost from the opening ot the 

 flower are abruptly reflexed, strongly and permanently. It is found 

 mostly in the southern portion of Illinois. 



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