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habitat |
form |
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flower |
ovary | |
| Characteristics: |
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Habitat: |
prefers constantly moist, acidic soils in heavy shade |
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Plant Height: |
15-30 cm |
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Flower Color: |
red/brown |
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Flower: |
incomplete; perfect; apetalous (without petals); 2-3 cm wide; 3 connate sepals; hairy, stamens 12; styles 6; inferior ovary with 6 locules (see cross section); pubescent |
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Inflorescence: |
solitary, borne in base of 2 leaves |
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Fruit: |
many-seeded round capsule |
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Leaves: |
pair of basal, pubescent, cordate (heart-shaped) to reniform (kidney-shaped) leaves; 8-12 cm wide at anthesis |
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Bloom Time: |
April-May |
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Origins: |
native |
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Other: |
rhizomes have a ginger-like odor, though not the form of commercial ginger; spreads slowly by rhizomes to form ground cover in shaded areas; rhizomes of the plant were eaten by natives and were believed to have medicinal properties; plant has been studied in cancer research | |