Toothwort and Rue Anemone (shown above) are two plants often found growing together. They are thus placed on the same page since many comments affecting one also affect the other.

Also Known As: (Toothwort) Pepper Root, Dentaria laciniata. (Rue Anemone) Windflowers, Anemonela thalictroides. Buttercup (Ranunculeae) Family.

Color Variations: Toothwort begins white and turns pink with age. Rue Anemone is usually pink throughout. The flower above has a couple of radial pink veins on each petal that are not too visible here.

Commentary: Both these plants are early successionists. They can often be found growing in lawns and gardens, even after being mowed over and sprayed with pesticides. The dainty flowers grow almost anywhere soil is exposed.  More so than any other woodland wildflower, these two plants are survivors and colonizers.

Both grow from small bulbs buried a half inch to three inches below the ground. The bulbs are S-Shaped and have a series of roots growing downward.

Toothwort: Has a terminal cluster of 6 to 12 white flowers, as shown below. The flowers may be pointing up or down, but more commonly down. This pic was borrowed from a photo of nearby Bloodroot.

The leaf looks like the teeth of a saw. They are much longer than wider. Immature specimens, like this below, may be only a leaf with no flower.

Precautions & Uses: The root was used as a flavor in soups and stews.

Soil Preferences: pH: 5.0-6.0.

References: Swink & Wilhelm 121, Wampler & Wampler 5, Peterson & McKenny 272-3.

Precautions and Uses: Contains a caustic juice used to treat gout and rheumatism, as well as burn out corns.

Soil Preferences: pH: 5.0-7.5 (further confirmation of the generalist nature of this plant is the wide range of pH values it tolerates.)

References: Pepoon n788, Swink & Wilhelm 107, Peattie 184, Wampler & Wampler 4, Klimas & Cunningham 23.

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