Dicentra cucullaria

For plants with a similar name, see Dutchman's pipe.

Dicentra cucullaria
File:Dicentra cucullaria - Dutchmans Breeches 2.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Papaveraceae
Subfamily:	Fumarioideae
Tribe:	Fumarieae
Subtribe:	Corydalinae
Genus:	Dicentra
Species:	D. cucullaria
Binomial name
Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches) is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to rich woods of eastern North America, with a disjunct population in the Columbia River Basin.

The common name Dutchman's breeches derives from their white flowers that look like white breeches.

Description

Height is 15–40 cm. The root is a cluster of small pink to white teardrop-shaped bulblets. Leaves are 10–36 cm long and 4–18 cm broad, with a petiole up to 15 cm long; they are trifoliate, with finely divided leaflets.

Flowers are white, 1–2 cm long, and are born in spring on flower stalks 12–25 cm long.

Dutchman's breeches is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants, a process called myrmecochory. The seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes, and put the seeds in their nest debris, where they are protected until they germinate. They also get the added bonus of growing in a medium made richer by the ant nest debris.

The western populations have sometimes been separated as Dicentra occidentalis on the basis of often somewhat coarser growth, but do not differ from many eastern plants in the Appalachians.

• Flowers and leaves
• Dicentra cucullaria buds cropped.png

  Buds

• Half opened Dutchman's breeches.JPG

  Almost opened flowers

• Dutchman's breeches closeup.JPG

  Fully opened flowers

• Dicentra cucullaria dissection.png

  A flower dissected, showing four petals, two stamens, and pistil

• Dicentra cucullaria.JPG

  Flowers

• Dicentra cucullaria in bloom.jpg

  Flowers

• Dicentra cucullaria6.JPG

  Flowers and leaves

• Dicentra cucullaria leaves.JPG

  Leaves

• Dicentra cucullaria illustration.svg

  19th century illustration

Medical uses

Native Americans and early white practitioners considered this plant useful for syphilis, skin conditions and as a blood purifier. Dutchman's breeches contains several alkaloids that may have effects on the brain and heart.

However, D. cucullaria may be toxic and causes contact dermatitis in some people.

Interactions with other species

Bombus affinis

Dicentra cucullaria is particularly dependent on the rusty-patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis) for pollination. In fact, the flower structure and mechanism by which it is pollinated indicate that it is adapted for bumblebees, which can separate the outer and inner petals of the flower. They will then use their front legs to expose the stigma, stamen, and anthers. Shortly afterwards, they will sweep pollen in a forward stroke by utilizing their middle legs, before leaving the flower to return to the colony with the pollen. In this way, D. cucullaria is pollinated as the bees move from plant to plant, and the bumblebee meets its dietary needs.

External links

• Flora of North America — map
• Missouri Plants
• USDA Plants profile