03.30.20 Cut-leaf Toothwort

This spring ephemeral has apparently had a name change recently. Cut-leaf Toothwort had been known as Dentaria laciniata, but has been recently redesignated Cardamine concatenatia. I am sure there is a story worth hearing there! It has grand tooth-like leaves, but apparently the name actually refers to the tooth-like shape of the root (go figure, how many folks actually see the roots…). A common name, Crow’s Toes, more accurately describes the leaf form. One guidebook quoted the National Park Service as reporting that this is the primary food for the West Virginia White Butterfly, Pieris virginiensis.

West Virginia White Butterfly photographed by Randy L. Emmitt and contributed to Wikimedia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chromolithograph from Thomas Meehan’s, The Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States, 1880. This image was posted by Pinebrook Antique Maps who would be happy to sell you this print.