By Tom Hodgson
Sunny days for woodland wildflowers are numbered as tree leaves begin to expand.
Some of the late April bloomers are still going strong however, and may include the most interesting and impressive of the lot.
The irregular blossoms of Dutchman’s breeches and Squirrel Corn are particularly unique. Those of the former look like tiny pantaloons belonging to some mystical gnome, hung out on a line to dry. Their finely divided leaves give the plant a very delicate appearance. Also called “staggerweed” because of toxic substances in the sap that can cause cattle to stagger and sometimes convulse after eating it.
The leaves of squirrel corn look very similar to Dutchman’s breeches, but the flowers are very different. They resemble the blossoms of the cultivated bleeding hearts, minus the red color. The tiny yellow tubers from which they grow resemble kernels of corn. Since they grow in the woods, logic has it that they must have been planted by squirrels.
Squirrel corn contains the same toxic chemicals found in Dutchman’s breeches, but the blooming time is a little later. Both plants depend on ants to distribute their seeds.
To me the rock star of woodland wildflowers is the trillium. There are several species, but the large-flowered trillium is the most common. Its snow white blossoms are among the largest of the woodland wildflowers. And if you are not that impressed with white, wait a few days because the blossoms turn pink as they age.
Trilliums also depend on ants to distribute their seeds. It takes six or seven years to go from seed to first flower, but individual plants can live many years after that.
The biggest threat to trillium after habitat destruction is deer. The high deer population in our area has resulted in the decimation of many local populations.
I always hate to see wild geranium in bloom. Not because it is not beautiful, but because it is one of the last woodland wildflowers to be found before the expanding forest canopy shuts out the sun, marking the end of the woodland wildflower season.
