It’s the season for spring ephemerals, native wildflowers like bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) that bloom on the forest floor for a short time in early spring. Like other spring ephemerals, bloodroot takes advantage of early spring sunlight, then fades by the time leaves shade the forest floor.
Bloodroot can be recognized by its single white flower with a yellow center and leaves that curl around the flower’s stalk before unfurling as the plant matures. Its name comes from the bright red liquid within its roots. Bloodroot has been used traditionally by many Native American cultures for a variety of uses, including dye and medicine.
As an early spring wildflower, bloodroot is an important food source for native pollinators like mining bees and flies. Ants collect bloodroot seeds to consume the elaiosome, a nutrient-rich structure attached to the seed.
After the elaiosomes are removed, the seeds are discarded in a pile inside the ants’ nest, where they can safely germinate and grow into new bloodroot plants.
Keep an eye out for bloodroot and other spring ephemerals as you walk in the woods this spring, but stay on the trail to protect fragile and rare plants. Wear waterproof footwear and walk through water and mud to avoid widening trails, especially in areas where rare plants are present.
Bloodroot and many other spring ephemerals are New York State protected plants. Regulations prohibit picking, digging or intentionally trampling these rare flowers – so bring your camera.
You can read more about native plants here, and more about bloodroot here and here.
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