Squirrel-corn
General poisoning notes:
Squirrel-corn (Dicentra canadensis) is a native herb found in rich woodlands in southern Ontario and Quebec. The plant contains alkaloids that are known to be toxic. However, feeding experiments on cattle using the aboveground parts, as well as the entire plant failed, to produce any symptoms other than slight restlessness and uneasiness (Black et al. 1923). See additional notes under general notes of Dicentracucullaria.
Description
Plants perennial, scapose, from short rootstocks bearing pink to white, teardrop-shaped bulblets. Leaves (10-)14-16(-36) × (4-)6-14(-18) cm; petiole (5-)8-16(-24) cm; blade with 4 orders of leaflets and lobes; abaxial surface glaucous; ultimate lobes linear to linear-elliptic or linear-obovate, (2-)5-15(-23) × (0.4-)2-3(-4.2) mm, usually minutely apiculate. Inflorescences racemose, 3-14-flowered, usually exceeding leaves; bracts minute. Flowers pendent; pedicels (2-)4-7(-12) mm; sepals broadly ovate, 1.8-5 × 1.3-4 mm; petals white, frequently suffused pink, apex yellow to orange-yellow; outer petals (10-)12-16(-20) × (3-)6-10(-13) mm, reflexed portion 2-5 mm; inner petals (7.5-)9-12(-14) mm, blade 1.8-4 mm, claw linear, 4-8 × less than 1 mm, crest prominent, ca. 2 mm diam.; filaments of each bundle connate from base to shortly below anthers; nectariferous tissue forming 1-3(-4.5) mm spur diverging at angle from base of bundle; style 2-4 mm; stigma 2-horned with 2 lateral papillae. Capsules ovoid, attenuate at both ends, (7-)9-13(-16) × 3-5 mm. Seeds reniform, ca. 2 mm diam., very obscurely reticulate, elaiosome present. 2 n = 32.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Dicentra canadensis (Goldie) Walp.
Vernacular name(s): squirrel-corn
Scientific family name: Fumariaceae
Vernacular family name: frumitory
Dicentra canadensis (Goldie) Walp.
Geographic Information
Ontario, Quebec.
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
See additional information under general notes of Dicentracucullaria.
Toxic parts:
Leaves, tubers.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Aporphine and protopine, which are isoquinoline alkaloids, have been found in Dicentraspecies. Several other alkaloids have also been found in the plants (Black et al. 1923).
Toxic plant chemicals:
Aporphine, protopine.
Aporphine
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.
Cattle
General symptoms of poisoning:
Restlessness.
