Dutchman’s breeches

Dutchman’s breeches – mini-pantaloons, billowy white pants, hanging on the stems to dry. One of our earliest true spring ephemerals, seen blooming by the 1000’s at the Madison school forest. As one of the earliest bloomers (no pun intended!), they have a virtual monopoly on pollinators this early in the year. Saw a bumblebee nectaring on them. Typically they grow on rocks in rich woods, but here they are spread across the forest floor of the oak woodlands. Perhaps with fire suppression they have spread more widely, forming carpets and taking advantage of the early spring sunlight.