Long-Tailed Ginger, Asarum Caudatum

Day 243: It's easy to see how Long-Tailed Ginger got its common name. Also known simply as Wild Ginger, Asarum caudatum's flower is one of the most distinctive to be found in Mount Rainier National Park, but it is also one of the most elusive, evading wildflower enthusiasts' cameras by hiding beneath lightly hairy, heart-shaped leaves. It grows throughout the forested zones, preferring moist banks and partial shade. The leaves and stems give off an aroma of ginger when broken, but please content yourself with visual observation of this most unusual flower. Look for the blossoms from mid-May to late June (sometimes into July).