Violet on the left, ginger on the right
Wild ginger is a different species from the kind of ginger you see in the supermarket, but they have a very similar flavor and the same medicinal uses: good for relieving an upset stomach, expelling gas, and stimulating circulation. Wild ginger has leaves that are more pungent than its roots and makes a nice tasting tea. It has a heart-shaped leaf that looks similar to violets (the flowers of which are edible) and wild or false lily-of-the-valley . The latter requires caution, as some kinds of lily-of-the-valley are poisonous.
This is lily-of-the-valley.
These three plants look similar and all grow in the same kind of habitat: shady places like forests. Here’s a good way to tell them apart: when rubbed, wild ginger leaves release a pleasant ginger/citrus aroma, and also, the leaf veins make circular, roundish patterns; in contrast, violet has veins that branch out toward the edges of the leaves and lily-of-the-valley has parallel veins that do not branch. Check out the pictures for a visual comparison.
[...] Image by Clayton College of Natural HealthIdentify violets by their distinctive five-petal flowers and rounded, heart-shaped leaves with branching parallel veins. You’ll see one leaf per stem coming from the base of the plant. (As long as you have the flower right you won’t have trouble, but if you’re in the forest later in the season, take care not to confuse the leaves with the toxic lily — see photo showing the difference here). [...]