A spring ephemeral with delicately divided fern-like leaves and white pantaloon-shaped flowers hanging from arched stems. Common name from the resemblance to upside-down trousers.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Dicentra cucullaria, Dutchman's britches, or Dutchman's breeches, is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to rich woods of eastern North America, with a disjunct population in the Columbia Basin.
Source: Wikipedia — Dicentra cucullaria Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Spring ephemeral with finely-dissected blue-green leaves; white "pantaloon" flowers hanging from arching stalks.
Similar species. Squirrel Corn (similar but flowers more rounded). Bleeding Hearts (different range).
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Spring ephemeral with delicate white flowers shaped like upside-down pantaloons. Pollinated almost exclusively by bumble bees and other long-tongued bees.
§ Range
Eastern North America
§ Habitat
Rich moist deciduous forests
§ Threats
Forest loss, deer overbrowsing, garlic mustard invasion.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the dutchman's breeches is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant from nursery sources. Support mature forest protection. Remove invasive garlic mustard.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Dicentra cucullaria
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Dicentra cucullaria
- iNaturalist · taxon 75899
- IUCN Red List — search for Dicentra cucullaria
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Dicentra cucullaria
§ Sources cited
- USDA Plants Database
- Native Plant Trust
