Spring ephemerals always bring a smile to my face. These hardy little herbaceous perennials poke their heads up from the soil in early-spring before the leaves have emerged from the canopy trees above them. On Cape Cod, we have Canada mayflower and starflower. Elsewhere in the state where the soil is richer, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is just starting to flower right now. Found in every county in Massachusetts except for Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, bloodroot is so named for the red-orange sap that flows from the stem and rhizome if broken. Preferring richer soils than can be found in our sandy coastal areas, bloodroot grows within floodplains, woodland slopes, and cool, moist deciduous forests. 

These low-growing flowers are borne singly from an orange-red rhizome (underground stem) and have 7 to 16 white petals (8 is most common). The basal leaves initially emerge wrapped around the flower bud, but will unfurl to reveal a wavy, lobed, palmately-veined leaf with toothed edges. 

Bloodroot was used medicinally by Native Americans throughout what is now the eastern United States. The red-orange sap from the rhizomes was used in small doses as a treatment for sore throats and as an expectorant. Both the juice from the rhizomes, as well as the dried and powdered rhizomes, are extremely caustic, capable of corroding and destroying tissue. For this reason, it was often used to treat fungal growths, such as ringworm, eczema and various skin cancers. Although references to bloodroot as a traditional medicinal herb abound, it may also have harmful effects, including nausea, headaches and vomiting. It is considered unsafe to use as an at home herbal remedy. 

It’s probably best to just leave these ephemeral flowers where they are and admire them while you can. If you happen to be walking around in the New England woods off-Cape in the next few weeks, don’t forget to look down. You wouldn’t want to miss these short-lived flowers.