Sanguinaria canadensis
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Tracheophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Order: Ranunculales |
| Family: Papaveraceae |
| Genus: Sanguinaria |
| Species: Sanguinaria canadensis |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
Bloodroot plants grow to be around 6 inches tall. It has a single white flower, with 8-10 petals that surround a golden or orange center. It has basal leaves that are deeply lobed, butterfly-shaped, and grow from the root of the plant (seperate from the flower stalk). The leaves are radiate out from the center and continues to persist even after the flower has died.
Habitat & Range
Bloodroot is typically found in moist, shady woodlands and along riverbanks. It can be found throughout much of the eastern US and Canada.
Behavior
During the winter, the plant dies back to the ground and regrows from the underground rhizome in the spring. Bloodroot is one of the earliest blooming plants, typically appearing in early spring before other plants have started to bloom.
Life Cycle
The seeds germinate in the spring and are triggered by warm temperatures and moisture. When the bloodroot reaches maturity, it blooms a single, white flower during April-May. After pollination, the flower produces a seed pod that contains several small, black seeds.
Featured image copyright Katie Bagnall-Newman, used here with permission.