DUTCHMANS-BREECHES 



Bikukulla cucullaria (Linnaeus) Millspaugh 



The peculiarly delicate flowers of dutchmans-breeches, held aloft 

 above the lacelike leaves by a slender stem, are one of the delights of 

 flower lovers in early spring. This plant prefers rich soil on rocky 

 ledges or well-drained wooded slopes. The leaves wither when the 

 warm days of late spring come. The plant was valued as a love charm 

 by the North American Indians. Recent tests made by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture trace many cases of stock poison- 

 ing to this plant. The leaves, unfolding before there is much other 

 green vegetation, are eaten greedily by cattle, and since the plant 

 grows in leafmold, with slight hold in the earth, it is easily pulled 

 loose, and the tubers as well as the leaves are eaten by the animal. 

 This double dose of the toxic substance, which is contained in all parts 

 of the plant, often produces fatal results. The Virginia highlanders 

 know the plant as "little staggerweed." It belongs to the Fumitory 

 Family. Many authors use the name Dicentra for the genus. The 

 flowers of this species are usually white, but pink-flowered plants are 

 found occasionally, especially in the southwestern part of its range. 



The specimen sketched was obtained near Washington, District 

 of Columbia. 



Dutchmans-breeches has a wide range, occurring from North 

 Carolina to Kansas, and north to Minnesota and Nova Scotia. 



PLATE 2.47 



