Asarum minus
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Hexastylis minor7.jpg
| image_caption = Asarum minus flowers
| genus = Asarum
| species = minus
| authority = Ashe
}}
Asarum minus, the little heartleaf or little brown jug, is a species of flowering plant in the Aristolochiaceae family.{{cite web |title=Asarum minus (Little Heartleaf) |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1455145-Asarum-minus |access-date=May 27, 2023|website=iNaturalist |language=en-US}} It is native to the southeast United States.
Description
Asarum minus is a low-growing, stemless perennial. Its leaves and flowers emerge from an underground rhizome. The leaves are long-petioled, heart- to kidney-shaped, 1.5-3 inches long, variegated, evergreen-leathery, and emit a spicy smell when torn. Maroon-brown flowers are situated on short stalks, about 1/2 in. long. Flowers are firm and fleshy and have a weak bell shape that flares out into three triangular, white-mottled lobes. Fruit is a round, fleshy capsule.{{Cite book |last=Cotterman |first=Laura |title=Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast |last2=Waitt |first2=Damon |last3=Weakley |first3=Alan |publisher=Timber Press |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-60469-760-5}}
Range
Ecology
Flowers are often hidden under leaf litter.
Taxonomy
Asarum minus was first described by William Ashe in 1897.{{Cite web |title=Tropicos |url=https://www.tropicos.org/name/2500180 |accessdate=2023-05-31 |website=www.tropicos.org}} A. minus is the basionym of Hexastylis minor (Ashe) H.L. Blomq.