ExplorePlants

Two-leaved Toothwort

Cardamine diphylla

Two-leaved Toothwort is a small plant with pretty white flowers that bloom in spring. It grows in shady forests and has two leaves that look like little hands reaching up to the sky!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Two-leaved Toothwort has striking clusters of white to pale lavender four-petaled flowers atop stems. Its name comes from the two large, opposite, deeply three-parted leaves that grow high on the stem, making it distinct among forest floor plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusCardamine
Two-leaved Toothwort
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgecluster_flower trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badge
Two-leaved Toothwort

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

10

Interesting facts

Its scientific name, Cardamine, means 'heart-calming,' perhaps from its spicy taste!

The 'toothwort' name actually refers to the tooth-like bumps on its underground rhizomes!

This plant is a close cousin to broccoli and cabbage, both in the mustard family!

You can munch on its peppery leaves and roots in a salad for a spicy kick!

Special abilities

Ability

Underground Networker

Two-leaved Toothwort has creeping rhizomes that help it spread and store energy, allowing it to pop up year after year.

Ability

Early Bird Bloomer

Two-leaved Toothwort can flower very early in spring, capturing sunlight before the forest canopy fully shades the ground.

Ability

Ant Ally

Two-leaved Toothwort has seeds with a special fatty attachment, enticing ants to carry and disperse them to new locations.

Ability

Peppery Protector

Two-leaved Toothwort has a peppery taste from special compounds that can deter some herbivores from munching its leaves.

Measurements & details

Height
15-40 cm
Spread
15-30 cm
Flower Size
0.8-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Spring (April-May)
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and pollen from flowers.

pollinates

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

A key pollinator of its early spring blooms.

eaten by

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Browses on its leaves and flowers, especially in early spring.

symbiotic with

Allegheny Mound Ant

Formica exsectoides

Disperses seeds for the plant, enjoying a fatty seed attachment.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Two-leaved Toothwort?

The easiest way to identify Two-leaved Toothwort is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Two-leaved Toothwort?

15-40 cm

How wide does Two-leaved Toothwort spread?

15-30 cm

How big are the flowers on Two-leaved Toothwort?

0.8-1.5 cm

When does Two-leaved Toothwort bloom?

Spring (April-May)

Is Two-leaved Toothwort edible?

Yes

Is Two-leaved Toothwort toxic?

None

What is Two-leaved Toothwort's lifecycle?

Perennial

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