# Woodland Pinkroot (*spigelia marilandica*) The Woodland Pinkroot has beautiful pink flowers that attract butterflies! It grows in shady spots of the forest and is fun to spot among the green leaves. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Woodland areas with rich, moist soil, often near streams or shaded spots. - **Also known as:** Indian Pink, Maryland Pinkroot, Spigelia ![Woodland Pinkroot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spigelia_marilandica_-_woodland_pinkroot_-_desc-flowers_3.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spigelia_marilandica_-_woodland_pinkroot_-_desc-flowers_3.jpg) ## Appearance The Woodland Pinkroot has striking, upright clusters of tubular, red-orange flowers with bright yellow insides that create a vibrant contrast. Its lance-shaped, dark green leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stems. This combination makes it stand out in shady woodland areas. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Loganiaceae - **Genus:** Spigelia ## Interesting facts - Despite its beauty, eating any part of this plant can make you very, very sick! - Hummingbirds love to visit its vibrant red-orange flowers for a sweet sip of nectar. - It's the only species of its kind, \*Spigelia\*, found naturally in the United States! - Its seeds can be flung several feet away when the seed pods burst open! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Beacon:** Woodland Pinkroot has bright red, tubular flowers that act like a beacon, guiding pollinators straight to its sweet nectar. - **Explosive Seeds:** This plant can launch its seeds away from itself when pods burst, helping them find new places to grow. - **Chemical Defense:** Woodland Pinkroot contains special chemicals in its roots that make it taste bad or even toxic, deterring hungry animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 30-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 2.5-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its bright flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Sips nectar from its tubular red blooms. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Gathers pollen and nectar from the flowers. ## Traits - [Perennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/perennial): Perennial plants live for more than two years, typically returning to grow and bloom each year from their roots. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Woodland Pinkroot? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Woodland Pinkroot? 30-60 cm ### How wide does Woodland Pinkroot spread? 30-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on Woodland Pinkroot? 2.5-5 cm ### When does Woodland Pinkroot bloom? Spring to summer ### Is Woodland Pinkroot edible? No ### Is Woodland Pinkroot toxic? Moderate ### What is Woodland Pinkroot's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Shaw Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shaw-nature-reserve) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Jackson Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-zoo) — Mississippi, US · Zoo - [Auburn University Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/auburn-university-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Campus - [Automotive Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/automotive-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Brierfield Furnace](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brierfield-furnace) — Alabama, US · Historic Site - [Great Falls Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-falls-dam) — Tennessee, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Woodland Pinkroot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/woodland-pinkroot) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Woodland Pinkroot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/woodland-pinkroot)