Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)

This member of the mustard family is a spring ephemeral found during early spring in woods with lots of leaf litter and rich, organic soil. "Toothwort" refers to the tooth-like appearance of scar tissue found on its rhizomes. Small colonies of this plant may form from the spreading rhizomes, however the plants go dormant in late spring. It is a good nectar source for many native bees, honey bees, and a few butterflies that are active early in the year. The edible roots have a spicy, radish-like flavor and are the source of another common name, pepper root.