Asarum canadense L.
Other common names: Asarum, Indian ginger, Canada snakeroot, Vermont snakeroot, heart snakeroot, southern snakeroot, black snakeroot, coltsfoot snakeroot, black snakeweed, broad-leaved asarabacca, false coltsfoot, colicroot.
Habitat and range: This inconspicuous little plant frequents rich woods or rich soil along roadsides from Canada south to North Carolina and Kansas.
Description: Canada wildginger, better known perhaps as Canada snakeroot, is a small plant, apparently stemless, and not more than 6 to 12 inches in height. It usually has but two leaves, which are borne on slender, finely hairy stems. The leaves are kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, thin, dark green above and paler green on the lower surface, and from 4 to 7 inches broad. The solitary flower is borne on a short, slender stalk produced between the two leaf stems, and on account of its closeness to the ground it is not readily noticeable. It is bellshaped and of a dull-brown or brownish-purple color, the inside being darker than the outside. The plant has a creeping, yellowish rootstock with thin rootless produced from joints which occur about every inch. It has a fragrant odor and spicy taste.
Part used: The rootstock, collected in autumn.
