Toothwort

This is toothwort, a member of the mustard family. Aside from skunk cabbage (below) and Hepatica, this is one of the first spring flowers to bloom in the forests of the eastern US. The flower bud, shown here, is about the size of an adult human canine tooth. The similarity in appearance helps explain how the plant got it's name. Of course, the leaves are also toothed.

Here is a closeup of another plant that was growing nearby the first. I usually avoid full sun when doing wildflower photography, but in this case, the sunlight helps show the hairy texture of the stem. I got these photos on March 17, 2006.

Here is a toothwort plant showing leaves without buds. When the leaves first sprout (from seed or the perennial root), they appear reddish, but turn green as chlorophyll develops in response to exposure to the sun.