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Common Name: Indian Cucumber Root

General Information

Medeola virginiana is a

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, Minnesota, Florida and Tennessee.

Habitat

Rich woods[], margins of swamps and bogs[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.25 m

Cultivation Details

Prefers light shade and plenty of leaf mould in a slightly acid soil[]. Prefers a rich sandy soil[].
The rootstock has a pleasant refreshing smell of cucumber[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked[, ]. Crisp and tender with the aroma and taste of cucumbers[, , , ]. A sweet flavour[]. The root is up to 8cm long[].

Medicinal

The root is diuretic and hydrogogue[]. It is used in the treatment of dropsy[].
An infusion of the crushed dried berries and leaves has been used to treat babies with convulsions[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame in a well-drained soil-less medium[]. Fully remove the fleshy seed covering because this contains germination inhibitors. The seed should germinate in the spring[]. Spring sown seed can be slow to germinate and may take 12 months or more[]. The seed should be sown thinly so that the seedlings can be grown on undisturbed in the pot for their first year. If necessary apply a liquid feed at intervals through the growing season to ensure that the plants grow on well. Prick the roots out into individual pots in the autumn and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least the next growing season, planting them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant.
Division in spring as the plant comes into growth[].