Hexastylis arifolia (Michx.) Small

Arrowleaf Ginger; Little Brown Jug; Arrowleaf Heartleaf

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Little Brown Jugs is a native herbaceous perennial in the Birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae). It occurs throughout all of Alabama except perhaps the extreme northwestern portion of the state. Little Brown Jugs occurs in rich hardwood forests, on ravine slopes, and along streams. It is a perennial with a slender creeping rhizome. The leaves are usually crowded near the apex of the rhizome. Leaves are petiolate, evergreen, triangular sagittate in outline, with entire margins. The leaves are dark green and mottled above and pale green below. Flowers are solitary in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are often covered by leaf litter. The flower has a leathery urn-shape calyx and no petals. There are three erect or spreading lobes. The calyx is mottled or spotted with purple, cream, tan, and brown. It is glabrous on the outside. The calyx lobes are pubescent on the inner surface and yellow or green in color. The inside of the calyx is dark purple. The fruit is a fleshy capsule. All parts of the plant are aromatic. Little Brown Jugs is a favorite wildflower. It is sometimes available from wildflower nurseries. It prefers a moist, organic rich soil in full or partial shade. It can be used along trails, in rock gardens, as a low border, and planted around the bases of trees.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC- (NWPL)

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