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Two-leaved Toothwort
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
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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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
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
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 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
How is Two-leaved Toothwort pollinated?
Insect
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