The Question: I’m hoping you can help identify this plant. It has us stumped! We were hiking in the Adirondack Mountains and caught some of the early wildflowers. Spring beauty, trout lily and trillium are blooming. This one had buds but no blooms, but I figured it would be easy to identify by the distinctive leaves. What is it? Submitted by: Gillian, New York, USA |
The Short Answer: I asked Peter Olesheski, a naturalist at Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center, which is not far from the Adirondacks. Here’s his response:
“After speaking with our resident wildflower expert and taking a look through her Adirondack Wildflower book, it looks like your writer has found some Two Leaved Toothwort – Dentaria diphylla, also may be found as Cardamine diphylla. Although it appears to have more, this plant has two leaves which are compound, each having three leaflets. These leaves grow opposite one another from the center of the main stalk. The plant can grow to about 14” tall and will have a terminal cluster of white to pink flowers that bloom in late April to early June.
“This plant prefers moist, rich soil and full shade. It has several nicknames including crinkleroot, pepperwort and Indian Pepper. It was used by the Native Americans who would cultivate and eat the roots. The roots were also used in folk remedies to treat colds, sore throats, toothaches, fever and intestinal problems. Some people still grow this plant in their herb gardens.”
There are several species in that genus that are called toothwort that have similar flowers, but very different leaf shapes. You might have been looking at one of the others in your guidebook.
Thank you! One of our readers had suggest toothwort also but the picture in my guidebook didn’t look anything like yours!
Thanks for the help
Gillian