(A) Dutchman's ISreecmes (IHcentra Qucutlana) / 
This peculiarly flowered herb belongs to the Fumitory 
family, a family of delicate, smooth plants with watery 
juices and compound, dissected leaves. 
The flower stalk, proceeding from the root, attains 
heights of from 5 to 9 inches and bears a loose raceme 
of four to eight white, inverted flowers; the four petals 
are united in pairs, two of them forming a large double- 
spurred sac, and the other two very small petals form¬ 
ing a protection for the stigma. The double sac is 
white, stained with yellow. The leaves are on long 
petioles from the rootstalk; they are pale sage-green in 
color, 3-parted and finely slashed. Dutchman’s Breeches 
may be found blooming in April and May in rich, hilly 
woods from N. S. to Minn, and south to X. C. and Mo. 
(B) Squirrel Corn ( D . canadensis) is similar, but 
the white sac-like petals are stained with purple, the 
spurs are shorter and rounder and the flower is slightly 
fragrant. The roots have little tuberous appendages re¬ 
sembling grains of corn. This species is found in the 
same range as the last. 
77 
