Flora of East-Central Indiana

Bloodroot
Scientific Name Sanguinaria canadensis  L.
Family Name Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)

 

Characteristics
Habitat: rich woods, along streams
Plant Height: 25 cm; single scape from rhizome
Flower Color: white
Flower: complete; perfect; 2 sepals drop off as soon as flower opens; petals 8-10; 4 cm wide; stamens numerous; single pistil; stigma 2-lobed
Inflorescence: solitary flower
Fruit: 2-parted capsule; pointed at both ends
Leaves: basal; palmately lobed
Bloom Time: late March-April
Origins: native
Other: opens in full sunlight, closes at night; flower lasts short time; sap contains acrid making it red comes from underground stem (rhizome), used by Native Americans as a dye; genus name comes from Latin sanguinarius meaning bleeding
sanguinaria_canadensis_habit8.jpg (75029 bytes) sanguinaria_canadensis_flowers8.jpg (52379 bytes)

sanguinaria_canadensis_flclose.jpg (29198 bytes)

 sanguinaria_canadensis_platform.JPG (28707 bytes)
general habit flowers close up of flower form

Native Wildflowers ● Trees, Shrubs&Vines ● Ferns ● Grasses&Allies ● Non-Native Species ●  ECI Flora Home

information provided by

FSEEC
Field Station and
Environmental Education Center
Ball State University, Muncie, IN



comments to:
hbrown@bsu.edu