Canadian wild ginger
Quick Summary
Canadian wild ginger, or snakeroot (A. canadense), is a perennial herb found in shady woods in eastern North America. It typically grows 6 to 12 inches tall and has two heart-shaped, downy leaves. The inconspicuous, cup-shaped flower is reddish-brown and develops at ground level between the leafstalks. The leaves and underground stems (rhizomes) of some wild ginger species have a pleasant scent when bruised. Dried rhizomes have been used as a substitute for true ginger. True ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a different plant native to southeastern Asia, known for its aromatic rhizome used as a spice and medicine.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
