BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Asarum caudatum | Wild Ginger 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Wild ginger is a low, trailing, perennial, evergreen, prostrate herb
which is often found in localized patches on the forest floor.  Its
leaves are softly hairy, borne two per node, alternate, simple,
appearing basal, long petioled, heart shaped, persistent, prominently
veined, entire edged, aromatic, dark to bright green, and sometimes
mottled.  Its large, solitary, thimblelike flowers grow close to the
ground and are often concealed by the leaves.  They are brownish-purple
to green and have three broad lobes which taper into long linear tails. The
fruit is a large, fleshy capsule containing small seeds.  The seeds are
angled or compressed, smooth or wrinkled, and have a minute embryo in a
fleshy endosperm.  They are widely distributed.  The roots of wild
ginger are rhizomatous.  They are extensive, slender, elongate,
aromatic, and can become matted.  [5,6,9,14].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Chamaephyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Sexual:  Wild ginger reproduces sexually by seed [9].

Vegetative:  Wild ginger spreads by a system of extensive rhizomes.  It
may form localized patches [9].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Wild ginger is an indicator of moist, shady, lowland to midmontane
forests in Oregon, Washington, and coastal British Columbia [5,8].

Soil:  Wild ginger is characteristic of Moder and Mull humus soil forms
[8].

Climate:  Wild ginger is found in areas with cool temperate and cool
mesothermal climates [8].  In northern Idaho and British Columbia the
climate is an inland expression of the Pacific Maritime influence [15].
This plant prefers locations with moist weather in the fall, winter, and
spring with dry summers [15].

Elevation:  Wild ginger generally occurs below 5,000 feet (1,524 m)
[2,14].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Wild ginger is  shade tolerant [8].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Wild ginger flowers from May through July in California [14], and from
April through July in Oregon and Washington [5].

Related categories for Species: Asarum caudatum | Wild Ginger