Size: 15-30 cm (6-12 in.).

Leaves and Flowers: Leaves are 5-20 cm (2-8 in.) usually in a single pair, opposite, dark green, and linear.

Flowers range 1-2 cm wide (1/2-3/4 in.) and have five pink petals. They bloom in the spring, March-May.

Habitat: Moist woods.

Range: Ontario to Quebec, and New England, south to Georgia west to Louisiana and Texas.

Use: The plant grows from an underground tuber like a small potato. It has a sweet, chestnut-like flavor and was used by Native Americans as a food. The natives of this area generally boiled it to eat as vegetable.