wild ginger

noun
1.
any of various plants belonging to the genus Asarum, of the birthwort family, especially A. canadense, a woodland plant of eastern North America, having two heart-shaped leaves, a solitary reddish-brown flower, and a pungent rhizome.
Origin
1795-1805
Examples from the web for wild ginger
  • The riparian forest is home to diverse plant and animal life including the state-endangered wild ginger.
  • Bracken fern and wild ginger thrived in the late-summer understory.
British Dictionary definitions for wild ginger

wild ginger

noun
1.
a North American plant, Asarum canadense, having a solitary brownish flower and an aromatic root: family Aristolochiaceae See also asarabacca, asarum
Encyclopedia Article for wild ginger

any of about 75 species of the genus Asarum, perennial herbs of the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae), distributed throughout North Temperate areas of the world. The leaves and underground stems (rhizomes) of some Asarum species give off a pleasant odour when bruised, and dried rhizomes are sometimes used as a substitute for ginger.

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