NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Cardamine concatenata [= Dentaria laciniata]

Cutleaf Toothwort

Scientific Name:	Cardamine concatenata [= Dentaria laciniata]
Genus:	Cardamine
Species Epithet:	concatenata
Common Name:	Cutleaf Toothwort
Plant Type	Herb/Wildflower
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	0-1 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White, Pink, Violet
Light:	Less than 2 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	March, April, May
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont
Habitat Description:	Rich, mesic forests.
Leaf Arrangement:	Whorled
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Has some wildlife value
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S4: Apparently secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	It’s a food plant for the caterpillars of the West Virginia White and Mustard White butterflies. Populations of both of these butterfly species have declined in recent years as a result at least in part of both habitat loss and the influx of Garlic Mustard (Allaria petiolata), a species native to Europe that is invasive in North America because it lacks predators here. The caterpillars of the West Virginia White butterflies in particular are able to digest only a few species of the mustard family, those with which the butterflies evolved. Garlic Mustard’s chemical composition is similar enough to Cut-leaved Toothwort’s to lure female butterflies to lay their eggs on it, but the resulting caterpillars can’t survive on a diet of Garlic Mustard. They need Cut-leaved Toothwort. https://the-natural-web.org/2015/04/26/cut-leaved-toothwort/
Habitat Ashe County, Apr '09 Sharon Eller
Plants with Blooms Tom Harville
Leaves Tom Harville
Blooms Tom Harville
Blooms April 2004 Jean Woods
Siliques beginning to form Jackson County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Although more commonly with white flowers, the color can also be lavender/pink/purplish. Willie Duke's Bluff, Durham County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record