Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. var. occidentalis (Rydb.) M. Peck
Dicentra occidentalis (Rydb.) Fedde
Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.
Dutchman’s breeches
Dutchman’s breeches, so-called because of the flowers’ resemblance to white Dutchman’s breeches, are related to bleeding hearts.
Plants: 7–20″ (17–50 cm) high.
Leaves: Racemes of 3-14 flowers. 4–14 ⨉ 1½–7″ (10–36 ⨉ 4–18 cm), arranged in groups of three, finely divided, at the ends of petioles 1¾–9″ (5–24 cm) long.
Flowers: White, sometimes pinkish, shaped like Dutchman’s breeches, up to 1″ (2.5 cm) long, hanging down from flower stalks up to 10″ (25 cm) long.
Fruits: Slender pods ¼–⅝ ⨉ 1/16–3/16″ (7–16 ⨉ 3–5 mm), pointed on both ends. Capsules split to release kidney-shaped seeds.
Habitats: Forest floors, rocky woods, slopes, ledges, valleys, ravines and along streams.
Online References:
Bicuculla cucullaria (L.) Millsp.
Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. var. occidentalis (Rydb.) M. Peck
Dicentra occidentalis (Rydb.) Fedde
Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. var. occidentalis (Rydb.) M. Peck
Dicentra occidentalis (Rydb.) Fedde
5/7/2007 · Falmouth, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others |
| Order | Papaverales | A group that includes buttercups and other poisonous plants |
| Family | Fumariaceae | Fumitory, fumewort, or bleeding-heart family |
| Genus | Dicentra | From the Greek dis, “twice,” and centron, “spur,” meaning “twice-spurred,” in reference to the flower shape |
| Species | cucullaria | Hood-like |
Dicentra cucullaria description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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