Asarum caudatum Lindl.
wild ginger
Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
wild ginger
Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from extensive rhizomes, forming large mats; stems rooting freely.
Leaves:
Kidney-shaped, shiny, stalked, the blades 2.5-10 cm long, 5-15 cm wide; stalks and veins finely hairy.
Flowers:
Solitary, bell-like with 3 flaring lobes, these long-pointed; corollas purplish-brown to greenish-yellow, 2.5-8.0 cm long.
Fruits:
Fleshy capsules, seeds egg-like with fleshy appendages.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Asarum caudatum
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
747 | 18 | 1715 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
20 | 0 | 87 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
215 | 0 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
4 | 0 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
663 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
ICH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
CDF(1), CWH(120), ESSF(3), ICH(445), IDF(32), MH(1), MS(4), SBS(24) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Moist to mesic forests in the lowland and montane zones; frequent in S BC south of 55degreeN, absent in Queen Charlotte Islands and adjacent coast; S to ID, MT and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Asarum caudatum var. caudatum
Asarum caudatum var. viridiflorum M. Peck
Taxonomic Notes
Asarum caudatum is from the mountains of western North America including BC. It has attractive, somewhat glossy, kidney-shaped foliage which combines well with lacy ferns and bleeding hearts. Intriguing brownish-red flowers appear beneath the foliage so make sure to watch for them.
Note Author: Gary Lewis, Phoenix Perennials |