Practical
Plants

Medeola virginiana

Indian Cucumber Root

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Medeola
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Root - raw or cooked[12][13]. Crisp and tender with the aroma and taste of cucumbers[1][5][2][4]. A sweet flavour[3]. The root is up to 8cm long[6].

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The root is diuretic and hydrogogue[10]. It is used in the treatment of dropsy[10]. An infusion of the crushed dried berries and leaves has been used to treat babies with convulsions[9].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hydrogogue

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, Minnesota, Florida and Tennessee.
Habitat
Rich woods[11], margins of swamps and bogs[13].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame in a well-drained soil-less medium[6]. Fully remove the fleshy seed covering because this contains germination inhibitors. The seed should germinate in the spring[K]. Spring sown seed can be slow to germinate and may take 12 months or more[K]. The seed should be sown thinly so that the seedlings can be grown on undisturbed in the pot for their first year. If necessary apply a liquid feed at intervals through the growing season to ensure that the plants grow on well. Prick the roots out into individual pots in the autumn and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least the next growing season, planting them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth[1].

Cultivation

Prefers light shade and plenty of leaf mould in a slightly acid soil[6]. Prefers a rich sandy soil[1]. The rootstock has a pleasant refreshing smell of cucumber[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩

  3. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  11. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  12. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩

  13. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

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