Dutchman’s Breeches, Butterfly Banners, Kitten Breeches, White Hearts

Dicentra cucullaria

dy-SEN-truh  kuk-yoo-LAIR-ee-uh

Synonyms of Dicentra cucullaria (19)(Updated on 1-5-23 from Plants of the World Online): Bicuculla cucullaria (L.) Millsp. (1892), Bicuculla occidentalis Rydb. (1902), Bikukulla cucullaria (L.) Millsp. (1892), Capnorchis cucullaria (L.) Planch. (1853), Capnorchis occidentalis (Rydb.) House (1922), Corydalis bracteosa (DC.) Spreng. (1826), Corydalis cucullaria (L.) Pers. (1806), Cucularia bulbosa Raf. (1808), Dicentra cucullaria var. occidentalis (Rydb.) M.Peck (1941), Dicentra cucullaria f. purpuritincta Eames (1931), Dicentra occidentalis (Rydb.) Fedde (1912), Diclytra bracteosa DC. (1821), Diclytra cucullaria (L.) DC. (1821), Diclytra cucullaria var. divaricata DC. (1821), Dielytra bracteosa (DC.) G.Don (1831), Dielytra cucullaria (L.) G.Don (1831), Fumaria bicalcarata Stokes (1812), Fumaria cucullaria L. (1753), Fumaria pallida Salisb. (1796)

Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. is the accepted scientific name for this species. Both the genus and species were named and described as such by Johann Jakob Bernhardi in Linnaea in 1833. It was first named and described as Fumaria cucullaria by Carl von Linnaeus in the second volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 1-5-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 8 species in the Dicentra genus. It is a member of the plant family Papaveraceae with 45 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map for Dicentra cucullaria is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native. The map on the USDA Plants Database is the same.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A POSITIVE ID.

Hello everyone! I was walking in a friend’s secluded woods on April 23 in 2020 when I ran across my first Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s Breeches) (see photos at the bottom of the page). I was literally walking in the creek when I spotted a single plant and it didn’t have any flowers. The plant was growing on a steep hillside and I had to get on my hands and knees to get to it and take photos. My plans were to keep going back until it bloomed, but after a few days, we had a big thunderstorm. I went to the location and found there had been a landslide and all I could find was a single leaf sticking up through the mud. I went back to the woods in 2021 but couldn’t find a single Dutchman’s Breeches.

2022 was a different story. There were A LOT here and there along the creek. Not only that, but in 2020 I also found a single Cardamine concatenata (Cut-Leaved Toothwort) that I couldn’t find in 2021. There were LOADS in 2022… I have identified A LOT of species of wildflowers in his woods (and on his farm in general) I don’t have on my farm.

I apologize for not writing descriptions when I wrote this page, but I was fairly busy. I will write descriptions as soon as I have time during the winter when I am not busy outside. That’s when I catch up and make updates. There are several links at the bottom of the page that have great descriptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have enjoyed photographing and learning about the many wildflowers growing on the family farm and in other areas nearby. The farm is in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can get a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
U.S. FOREST SERVICE
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
FLORA FINDER
FRIENDS OF THE WILDFLOWER GARDEN
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
GARDENIA
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON/BURKE HERBARIUM
SEINet
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
WILDFLOWERS OF THE ADIRONDACKS
OZARK EDGE WILDFLOWERS

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is the most reliable and up-to-date plant database and they make updates on a regular basis. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂

OTHER PHOTOS:

The first photos I took of the Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s Breeches) were on April 23 in 2020. This is the plant I mentioned that disappeared during a landslide along the creek on a friend’s farm after a storm…