Hartweg's wild ginger facts for kids

Asarum hartwegii is a special kind of wild ginger plant. It's often called Hartweg's wild ginger.

About Hartweg's Wild Ginger

This plant is only found in California, USA. It grows in forest areas. Hartweg's wild ginger is a perennial herb. This means it lives for many years and does not have a woody stem.

How it Grows

The plant grows from an underground stem called a rhizome. This rhizome smells like ginger and goes deep into the ground. The plant forms a group of leaves. These leaves have cool white veins and are shaped like a heart or are round. They are also covered in soft, curved hairs. Each leaf grows on a long stalk called a petiole, which can be up to 21 centimeters long.

Flowers and Fruit

Hartweg's wild ginger has a single flower that grows close to the ground. This flower sits on a short stalk called a peduncle. The flower does not have petals. Instead, it has three curving, hairy parts called sepals. These sepals are usually brownish or maroon on the outside. On the inside, they are whitish with red stripes. After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit. This fruit is a soft, fleshy capsule. Inside the capsule are many seeds.