Dentaria

Dentaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, commonly known as toothwort. The name derives from Latin dens, meaning tooth, a reference that appears in the common name as well as in some descriptions of the plant’s tubers or leaf margins. The genus has a temperate distribution in the northern hemisphere, with species found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North America.

Description: Dentaria species are perennial herbs with creeping rhizomes or tubers. They typically produce slender stems that bear small, four‑petaled flowers in early spring, usually white or pale pink, arranged in short racemes. Leaves often appear after flowering and are usually pinnate with toothed leaflets or lobed margins. The fruit is a slender pod, or silique, containing numerous seeds. The early floral display makes dentaries among the first spring woodland plants to bloom.

Taxonomy: The classification of Dentaria has been historically unstable. Many species formerly placed in Dentaria have been moved to Cardamine, and some authorities treat Dentaria as a synonym of Cardamine or recognize only a few species as Dentaria. As a result, species names may vary between taxonomic treatments and regional floras.

Distribution and habitat: Toothworts favor deciduous woodland habitats with rich, moist soil and lingering leaf litter. They are adapted to cool, temperate climates and tend to flower before the forest canopy fully develops, contributing early-season nectar and pollen for pollinators.

Selected species: Dentaria diphylla (American toothwort) and Dentaria laciniata are commonly cited, though many authorities now place these taxa in Cardamine or related genera.