Author Topic: Now here's a tasty morsel: Indian Cucumber root (Read 1116 times)

SwampDonkey · « **on:** January 07, 2004, 05:17:24 pm »

Hi folks:

ID this one.

Its found on dry hardwood ridge sites, usually shallow soils. Often found in patches because of its rhyzome root system. In my area the fruit is bright red, but it can be dark purple too as I've seen photos from other sources. Associated with beech and sugar maple. You'll end up heading down a couple paths to ID this one also.

good luck

Paul_H · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2004, 03:02:51 pm »

I've had no luck whatsoever on this one.Is it an Eastern plant?

I'll keep plugging away at it

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2004, 03:18:50 pm »

@ Paul_H

hehehe

Umm, don't hit me with a club when I ask you if there's sugar maple and american beech stands on the west coast.

East of the Mississippi I suspects. That includes southeastern Manitoba by the way, since it comes from the Lake of the Woods in Ontario near Kanora and loops just east on Winnepeg for you geography buffs.

Paul_H · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2004, 03:28:49 pm »

I'll have you know we have both Maple Sugar and beaches,and probably more Nova Scotians than the Maritimes

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2004, 03:36:55 pm »

Paul_H

Those darn Maritime emmigrants

Paul_H · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2004, 03:41:34 pm »

I was working with a whole whack of them a few weeks back.There was seven of us in the shop before work and five were from NS. Had alot of fun.

PS
I right clicked on the picture and checked properties to see if I could cheat

No luck.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2004, 04:37:45 pm »

Hi Paul:

Yeah, I already thought of that cheet

Glad you had fun with the Highlanders. Were ya all wearing your kilts?

hehe

Paul_H · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2004, 04:40:50 pm »

Some of them are a little off kilter

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2004, 04:46:57 pm »

@ Paul_H

crazier than a bag of hammers I bet, eh?

Paul_H · « **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2004, 04:51:37 pm »

And they talk funny

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2004, 04:57:41 pm »

Ummm.......

Did ya ID that plant yet?

Paul_H · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2004, 05:02:14 pm »

Yeah,it's a Maiden Hair Fern

What was the name of that other one with the Red berries that we ID'd? I've forgotten.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2004, 05:50:10 pm »

hahhahaha

Aralia racemosa Spikenard was the red berries

and maiden-hair fern was a previous post to this one

hehehe

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2004, 01:15:12 pm »

Hi All:

Here's a little hint while search'n in your plant ID keys.

You should be hot on the trail between bunch berry Cornus canadensis and star flower Trientalis borealis

You'll find star flower, painted trilium and false-lilly-of the valley with this plant. All are monocotyledons which emerge in spring before trees leaves out. Bunch berry and painted trilium both have stocked flower buds with 3 leafed whorls around the bud. This is on fertile plants only; sterile donkeys are impotent. oops

(no stocked flower)

Paul_H · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2004, 03:00:56 pm »

I've had no luck with plant keys because they're like a computer and are only as good as the info you punch in.

So I've been typing things like "herbaceous rhizomes understory red berries low growing annuals,eastern ridge shallow soils......." in google.

I did check bunch berry and among other things,lily of the valley.This one has been a real zinger.

I'm convinced there is no such plant. Next.

Paul_H · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2004, 03:13:51 pm »

Is it Clintonia borealis?

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #16 on:** January 09, 2004, 03:34:41 pm »

Hi Paul:

hmmmm.....blue bead lilly, or yellow clintonia?

a big NOPE

That is lilly-like, concerning the leaves. This plant has leaves like star flower or trilium.

Back to the books.

You need Peterson's Guide to Wildflowers
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=681386

or

Peterson's Guide to edible wild plants

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=681414

This plant has an edible tuber as big as your pinky finger

Tom · « **Reply #17 on:** January 09, 2004, 03:56:49 pm »

Would you believe...............

Indian cucumber root
Mediola virginiana

?

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #18 on:** January 09, 2004, 04:09:55 pm »

Hi Tom:

Suffer'n suck-a-tash he's got it.

Indian Cucumber Root

Paul_H · « **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2004, 04:36:10 pm »

Thank you Tom,it's been driving me Mad

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Author Topic: Now here's a tasty morsel: Indian Cucumber root (Read 1116 times)