The mapping here is provisional; further study will be needed after planned revision by D. Estes (pers. comm.) and others (W; Spaulding et al. 2018). These plants include typical canadense and perhaps some transitonal to, or confused with, var. acuminatum Ashe. Typical canadense may be largely northeastern and Appalachian (W). Var. acuminatum has generally longer calyx tubes (ca. 10-20 mm versus 4-10 m), longer calyx lobes (ca. 15-35 mm versus 10-25 mm), even in early floral development, and relatively large leaves (to be quantified). It has been treated as another full species by W and others, and it may be common across northeastern and Appalachian regions, where perhaps concentrated at higher elevations (as in BELL and HARL). However, distinction is often impossible with herbarium colls. A third segregate, A. reflexum is treated here as a species; see notes under that name. The common name "wild ginger" reflects the characteristic pungent smell of this plant, especially roots. Some of the aromatic chemistry is similar to that of true ginger (Zingiber), but Asarum can also contain the potent carcinogens, aristolochic acid and asarone (Schaneberg et al. 2002). Although Asarum has much traditional use in medicine and cuisine, regular consumption may be dangerous.