01.
A Bit of Botany
a little bit of botany about canadian snake root
description
Asarum canadense is a stemless plant which features two downy, heart-shaped
to kidney-shaped, handsomely veined, dark green, basal leaves (to 6" wide).
Cup-shaped, purplish brown flowers (1" wide) appear in spring on short,
ground-level stems arising from the crotch between the two basal leaves.
Flowers are quite attractive on close inspection, but bloom singly on or
near the ground and are usually hidden from view by the foliage.
The plant
rises to only 4-6 inches tall but spreads indefinitely by rhizomes to form
dense carpets of downy, heart-shaped, dark green leaves. Tiny, urn-shaped,
ground-hugging, maroon-brown flowers bloom in April and May.
common names & nomenclature
The common name of Snake Root is due to the snakelike appearance of the
root. The common name Wild Ginger is due to the plant having several
similarities in common with true ginger, such as the aromatic scent.
Also known as:
canadian snake root, wild ginger, indian ginger, canada snakeroot, asarum, vermont snakeroot, heart-snakeroot, black snakeroot, colt's-foot, snakeroot, black snakeweed, broadleaved asarabacca, false colt's-foot, cat's foot, colicroot