Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Fumariaceae - Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Squirrel Corn

(Dicentra canadensis)

Color Photograph: Copyright Corel Corporation

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

Dicentra cucullaria

Squirrel Corn is most likely to be confused with Dutchman's Breeches. However the flower spurs of Dutchman's Breeches are elongate and project on either side of the flower.

Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Identification: Flowers white to cream-white, heart-shaped with flower spurs rounded, short, not projecting. Flowers in a small spike, hanging downward. Leaves heavily, but finely, divided into elongate segments, rounded in shape. Roots appearing like grains of yellow corn (hence the name). Plant 6 to 12 inches in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of eastern North America.

Habitat: Squirrel Corn is found in moist, rich forest.

Flowering period: April to May.

Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Similar Species:

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

Similar Species