Dicentra cucullaria

Dicentra cucullaria
Dicentra cucullaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Fumariaceae
Genus: Dicentra
Species: D. cucullaria
Binomial name
Dicentra cucullaria
(L.) Bernh.

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches) is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to rich woods of eastern North America, with a disjunct population in the Columbia River Basin.[1]

The common name Dutchman's breeches derives from their white flowers that look like white breeches.

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's Breeches)

Height is 15-40 cm. Root is a cluster of small pink to white teardrop-shaped bulblets. Leaves are 10-36 cm long and 4-18 cm broad, with a petiole up to 15 cm long; they are trifoliate, with finely divided leaflets.

Flowers are white, 1-2 cm long, and are born in spring on flower stalks 12-25 cm long.

Dutchman's breeches is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants, a process called myrmecochory. The seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes, and put the seeds in their nest debris, where they are protected until they germinate. They also get the added bonus of growing in a medium made richer by the ant nest debris.

The western populations have sometimes been separated as Dicentra occidentalis on the basis of often somewhat coarser growth, but do not differ from many eastern plants in the Appalachians.

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's Breeches)

Medical uses

19th century illustration

Native Americans and early white practitioners considered this plant useful for syphilis, skin conditions and as a blood purifier. Dutchman's breeches contains several alkaloids that may have effects on the brain and heart.

However, D. cucullaria may be toxic and causes contact dermatitis in some people.

References

  • Bleeding hearts, Corydalis, and their relatives. Mark Tebbitt, Magnus Lidén, and Henrik Zetterlund. Timber Press. 2008.

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dicentra cucullaria — Dutchman s breeches Dutchman s breeches, Dutchman s breeches Dutchman s breeches . (Bot.), a delicate perennial spring flowering herb ({Dicentra cucullaria}) of eastern U.S., having peculiar double spurred white flowers. See Illust. of {Dicentra} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dicentra cucullaria — Dutchman s breeches Dutchman s breeches, Dutchman s breeches Dutchman s breeches . (Bot.), a delicate perennial spring flowering herb ({Dicentra cucullaria}) of eastern U.S., having peculiar double spurred white flowers. See Illust. of {Dicentra} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dicentra cucullaria — raguotasis auskarėlis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Žvirbliarūtinių šeimos vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Dicentra cucullaria), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Dicentra cucullaria angl. Dutchman s breeches; turkey corn… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Dicentra cucullaria — ID 26457 Symbol Key DICU Common Name dutchman s breeches Family Fumariaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Dicentra cucullaria — noun delicate spring flowering plant of the eastern United States having white flowers with double spurs • Syn: ↑Dutchman s breeches • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Member Holonyms: ↑Dicentra, ↑genus Dicentra …   Useful english dictionary

  • Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. — Symbol DICU Common Name dutchman s breeches Botanical Family Fumariaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. var. occidentalis (Rydb.) M. Peck — Symbol DICU Synonym Symbol DICUO Botanical Family Fumariaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. var. occidentalis (Rydb.) M. Peck — Symbol DICU Synonym Symbol DICUO Botanical Family Fumariaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. — Symbol DICU Common Name dutchman s breeches Botanical Family Fumariaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. var. occidentalis (Rydb.) M. Peck — Symbol DICU Synonym Symbol DICUO Botanical Family Fumariaceae …   Scientific plant list

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