Squirrel-corn
General poisoning notes:
Squirrel-corn (Dicentra
canadensis) is a native herb found in rich woodlands in southern Ontario
and Quebec. The plant contains alkaloids that are known to be toxic. However,
feeding experiments on cattle using the aboveground parts, as well as the
entire plant failed, to produce any symptoms other than slight restlessness and
uneasiness (Black et al. 1923). See additional notes under general notes of Dicentracucullaria.
Description
Plants perennial,
scapose, from short rootstocks bearing pink to white, teardrop-shaped bulblets.
Leaves (10-)14-16(-36) × (4-)6-14(-18) cm; petiole (5-)8-16(-24) cm; blade with
4 orders of leaflets and lobes; abaxial surface glaucous; ultimate lobes linear
to linear-elliptic or linear-obovate, (2-)5-15(-23) × (0.4-)2-3(-4.2) mm,
usually minutely apiculate. Inflorescences racemose, 3-14-flowered, usually
exceeding leaves; bracts minute. Flowers pendent; pedicels (2-)4-7(-12) mm;
sepals broadly ovate, 1.8-5 × 1.3-4 mm; petals white, frequently suffused pink,
apex yellow to orange-yellow; outer petals (10-)12-16(-20) × (3-)6-10(-13) mm,
reflexed portion 2-5 mm; inner petals (7.5-)9-12(-14) mm, blade 1.8-4 mm, claw
linear, 4-8 × less than 1 mm, crest prominent, ca. 2 mm diam.; filaments of
each bundle connate from base to shortly below anthers; nectariferous tissue
forming 1-3(-4.5) mm spur diverging at angle from base of bundle; style 2-4 mm;
stigma 2-horned with 2 lateral papillae. Capsules ovoid, attenuate at both
ends, (7-)9-13(-16) × 3-5 mm. Seeds reniform, ca. 2 mm diam., very obscurely
reticulate, elaiosome present. 2 n = 32.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Dicentra canadensis (Goldie)
Walp.
Vernacular
name(s): squirrel-corn
Scientific family
name: Fumariaceae
Vernacular family
name: frumitory
Geographic Information
Ontario, Quebec.
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
See additional
information under general notes of Dicentracucullaria.
Toxic parts:
Leaves, tubers.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Aporphine and
protopine, which are isoquinoline alkaloids, have been found in Dicentra
species. Several other alkaloids have also been found in the plants (Black et
al. 1923).
Toxic plant chemicals:
Aporphine, protopine.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
Cattle
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Restlessness.
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