Aristolochiaceae

Perennial non-woody (herbaceous) plants that often occur in large patches or colonies with sprawling prostrate stems and shallow underground roots, and three-lobed dark burgundy flowers at ground level between a pair of stalked, hairy, heart-shaped leaves; Canada Wild Ginger is the only family member in New Brunswick. Most common in calcium-rich forests and forested floodplains.

Flowers solitary, on short stalks, burgundy to red-brown, symmetrical in all directions (radially), arising at ground level between a pair of leaves. Petals none. Sepals 3, petal-like, fused to form a tube at the base but remaining as separate spreading lobes at the top, hairy on the outside. Stamens 12, separate but tightly pressed against the styles. Carpels 6, fused; ovary located below point of attachment of the other flower parts, 6-chambered; styles coherent in a column, expanded at the tip into a 6-lobed stigma. Fruit capsular, several-seeded. Seeds large, round and wrinkled; have a fleshy outgrowth at their point of attachment and this attracts ants that disperse them.

Leaves hairy, heart-shaped to kidney-shaped, entire, on long hairy stalks, deciduous in late autumn. Stipules usually lacking.

Stems trailing, elongate, with a distinctive ginger-like fragrance when broken or bruised.