squirrel corn
Definition
Noun: 1. A North American woodland plant (Dicentra canadensis) of the poppy family, having cream-colored, heart-shaped flowers and small, yellow, tuberous roots that resemble kernels of corn.
Usage
- Squirrel corn is a spring ephemeral, meaning it blooms early and goes dormant by summer.
- The delicate, fragrant flowers of squirrel corn attract early-season pollinators.
- Botanists study squirrel corn for its unique root structure and relationship with native ant species that disperse its seeds.
Examples
- We found a patch of squirrel corn growing beneath the oak trees.
- Squirrel corn is often confused with its close relative, Dutchman's breeches (), but their flowers have a different shape.
- The squirrel corn plant gets its name from the appearance of its small, grain-like tubers.
Advanced Usage
- In ecological contexts, squirrel corn is cited as an example of a myrmecochorous plant, as its seeds are dispersed by ants.
Variants and Related Words
- Dicentra canadensis: The botanical (Latin) name for squirrel corn.
- Fumariaceae: The plant family to which it belongs, though it is often included in the Papaveraceae (poppy) family.
Synonyms
- Wildflower: A general term for a flowering plant that grows in the wild without human cultivation.
- Spring ephemeral: A specific category of wildflower that completes its life cycle in the spring before the forest canopy closes.
Different Meanings
The term squirrel corn refers exclusively to this specific plant species. It is not used to describe actual corn for squirrels or any other object.
Noun
-
American plant with cream-colored flowers and tuberous roots resembling kernels of corn
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