Name: Dicentra cucullaria	Description: Family: Poppy (Papaveraceae)  Growth Form: Perennial from granular bulbs. Stems: No leaf-bearing stems present. Leaves: Basal, very delicately divided, pale beneath, smooth. Flower Arrangement: Racemes on a leafless stalk up to 10 inches long. Flowers: Up to 2/3-inch long, up to 3/4-inch broad, nodding, on short stalks. Petals: 4 in 2 pairs, white except for the yellow tip, spreading above, with pointed spurs at the base. Stamens: 6, included within the petals. Pistil: Ovary superior; stigma 2-parted. Fruits: Oblong to linear, smooth, splitting down 2 sides, to 1 inch long, with several seeds.	Discussion: This plant flowers from mid- to late March to early May. The attractive leaves and flowers make this secies popular in wildflower gradens. The plant contains an alkaloid poisonous to cattle. The Dutchman's Breeches are closely related to squirrel corn, but usually blooms a little before it.
Image:	Location: Habitat: Rich woods. Range: Throughout the state.	Waypoint:  N 38 degrees 34.755 minutes W 89 degrees 04.146 minutes Elevation 475 feet

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Photos courtesy: Odin Tech Prep Team 2004
Project courtesy: Grant Arnold, Deniz Hawley, Kristen Minor, Brian Deadmond

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