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©2007 by Mike Habeck

      Flora: Bloodroot

Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot photo

A springtime wildflower and member of the Poppy family. Typically found in moist woods, this flower does not last long - only a few days. The flower is on a stalk that rises up between the lobes of a much larger and longer-lasting single leaf. The stalk is later topped by an oblong seed pod, sometimes up to a couple of inches long. The seed pod slowly ripens and expands over the course of about a month before bursting open and scattering the seeds. The name derives from the reddish liquid found in the roots. Though toxic, the liquid was used for a variety of purposes by Native Americans. Photographed in central Indiana.