wild ginger
• noun
Any of various low-growing woodland perennial plants of the genus Asarum (family Aristolochiaceae), native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, having heart-shaped or kidney-shaped leaves, pungent ginger-scented rhizomes, and solitary, bell-shaped, purplish-brown flowers that bloom close to the ground beneath the foliage.
"A thick carpet of wild ginger covered the shaded forest floor, hiding its tiny, cup-shaped maroon blossoms beneath broad, velvety leaves."
Any of several tropical herbaceous plants in the true ginger family (Zingiberaceae), such as bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) or kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum), that grow naturally in the wild or have become naturalized in warm, humid climates.
"Hikers along the tropical trail brushed past tall stalks of wild ginger, releasing a spicy, citrus-like fragrance into the humid air."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its ginger-like aroma, wild ginger in the genus Asarum is botanically unrelated to culinary ginger and contains aristolochic acid, a compound known to cause severe kidney damage if ingested in significant amounts.
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Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.