Squirrel Corn

• Plant Type: Perennial herb.
• Common Names: Squirrel Corn.
• Color: White, Pink
• Flower Dimensions: 0.5 inches in length.
• Flowering Season: April and May.

Dicentra canadensis is a perennial herb with blue-gray and fernlike foliage. This species belongs to the family Fumeriaceae. The squirrel corns are natives to the east of North America.

• The foliage of the Squirrel Corn is 6-10 inches. The compound leaves of the Dicentra canadensis are finely-cut, smooth, lacy, and blue-green.
• The flowers of the Squirrel Corn are dainty and shaped like broad hearts. These flowers are fragrant in pinkish white. Sometimes, the flowers have pale lavender tinged.
• The flowers of the Squirrel corn look like porcelain earrings above the foliage. The showy and fragrant flowers of D. canadensis are in a raceme.
• Plants of Dicentra canadensis become dormant after they bloom.

Where can Squirrel Corns be mostly spotted?

North America

• All parts of the Squirrel Corn plant are toxic only in large quantities^[1]. However, it can also cause skin rashes.
• The Squirrel Corn plants become dormant after they bloom. The mice and chipmunks are skilled in transplanting the tubers of the squirrel corn. Dicentra canadensis^[2] is called Squirrel Corn because the underground food storage structures of the plant resemble corn kernels.
• The dried tubers^[3] of the Squirrel Corn are medicinal. It is used for the treatment of syphilis and menstrual complaints. In addition, the dried tubers are diuretic and tonic.
• Dicentra canadensis^[4] is reported to contain aporphine alkaloid bulbocapnine and dicentrine. Scientists were reviewing the cytotoxic properties of the aporphinoids and their possibility for developing anti-cancer agents.
• Researchers studied the flavonoid components of Dicentra canadensis^[5] to investigate its relationship with other species in the genus. Results show that D. canadensis is closely related to D. cucullaria.