Cardamine concatenata (syn. Dentaria laciniata)

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cardamine concatenata (syn. Dentaria laciniata)

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 12″.  Cutleaf Toothwort.  North America.  A delightful spring ephemeral that is one of the first to appear in the woodland garden.  The common name refers to the tooth-like projections on the rhizome which were thought to cure toothaches.  Each flowering stem emerges from the rhizome and has a whorl of three leaves deeply divided and sharply toothed and sit below the flower.  The flowers are in terminal clusters of fragrant, four-petalled, ½-inch, white flowers that can often be flushed pink.  Cutleaf Toothwort is sometimes called Pepper Root in reference to the horseradish flavour of the rhizomes which can be cut up and added to salads.  Sadly, our patches are not overly abundant so we daren’t try this delicacy.  Reputed to be difficult from seed but worth giving it the old college try.  Partial shade.  3 & T1