Dutchman’s-breeches, also called white heart, is a small, delicate plant with flattened, heart-shaped flowers. It grows in woodlands from Nova Scotia to Georgia and west to Nebraska. It is also found in Washington and Oregon. The plant has lacy, fernlike leaves. Its stems are brittle and contain a watery sap. The stem grows from an underground tuber (see Tuber ).
Dutchman’s-breeches gets its name from the shape of its flowers. Each leafless flower stalk has 4 to 10 nodding fragrant flowers that look like baggy trousers hanging upside down. The flowers are waxy white or pinkish-white with yellow tips.
