Dutchman's Breeches Canvas Print

Found in rich woods and ravines, the dainty flowers of Dutchman's breeches blooms from April to May. The flowers have four petals united in two pairs. Two larger white or pinkish petals form the "breeches," while a smaller pair of yellow-tinged petals encloses the stigma. The genus name, derived from the Greek words dis -- twice -- and centron -- spur -- describes the form of the flower. The species epithet, cucullaria -- which means hoodlike -- refers to the smaller pair of petals. Bumblebees pollinate the flowers as they sip the nectar inside the spurs with their long proboscises. Unable to reach the nectar, other bees with shorter proboscises can only collect the pollen. The highly dissected, bluish green foliage of Dutchman's breeches makes a pleasing contrast to the delicate flowers. The leaves have been used in folk medicine as a poultice to treat skin ailments.Dutchman's breeches is closely related to the garden favorite, bleeding hearts.

Gordon Beningfield was born in Lo...