Subtribe Corydaline Higher classification Fumarioideae | Tribe Fumarieae Scientific name Dicentra Rank Genus | |
Lower classifications Dicentra formosa, Dicentra cucullaria, Dicentra eximia, Dicentra canadensis, Dicentra uniflora | ||
How to plant dicentra bleeding heart
Dicentra (bleeding-heart; Greek dís "twice", kéntron "spur") is a genus of eight species of herbaceous plants with oddly shaped flowers and finely divided leaves, native to eastern Asia and North America.
Contents
- How to plant dicentra bleeding heart
- Description
- Current species
- Hybrids and cultivars
- Former species
- References
Description
Flowers have two tiny sepals and four petals. The flowers are bisymmetric: the two outer petals are spurred or pouched at the base and curved outwards or backwards at the tip, and the two inner ones with or without a crest at the tip. In Dicentra, all leaves are in a basal rosette, and flowers are on leafless stalks. In other genera with bisymmetric heart-shaped flowers (Lamprocapnos, Dactylicapnos, Ichtyoselmis, Ehrendorferia), leaves grow on stems as well as from the root. Each of the two compound stamens is composed of one median and two lateral half stamens fused together. The stamens and pistil are held between the inner petals.
Seeds with elaiosomes are borne in long pods.
All parts are poisonous if ingested.
Current species
The genus Dicentra includes plants whose flowers and leaves grow on stems directly from the roots. Species with branching stems used to be included in the genus, but have now been moved to other genera.
- Dicentra canadensis (Goldie) Walp.
squirrel-corn - Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.
Dutchman's-breeches - Dicentra eximia (Ker-Gawl.) Torr.
fringed bleeding-heart, turkey-corn - Dicentra formosa (Haw.) Walp.
western or Pacific bleeding-heart - Dicentra formosa subsp. formosa
- Dicentra formosa subsp. oregana
- Dicentra nevadensis Eastw.
Sierra bleeding-heart - Dicentra pauciflora S. Wats.
short-horn steer's-head - Dicentra peregrina (Rudolphi) Makino
komakusa - Dicentra uniflora Kellogg
long-horn steer's-head
These species names are synonyms of the names above:
Hybrids and cultivars
There are several hybrids and cultivars involving Dicentra eximia, Dicentra formosa, and Dicentra peregrina, including:
Hybrids involving Dicentra peregrina are often intolerant of hot-humid climates and sun like the species itself.
Former species
The genera Dactylicapnos, Ichtyoselmis, Ehrendorferia and Lamprocapnos were previously included as subgenera in Dicentra, but have been shown not to belong in this genus (see for example Flora of China web page)