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Questions and Answers: 2020

Question: I saw this plant yesterday in SE Vermont along a trail in a mixed hardwood forest. The leaves looked like …

• Question

  I saw this plant yesterday in SE Vermont along a trail in a mixed hardwood forest. The leaves looked like an emerging two-leaved toothwort plant but the two leaves were dark red , not green. Unfortunately I did not get a photo. Could this have been toothwort and the leaves later turn green?

  Answer

  Dear patashields, good morning. The emerging leaves of Cardamine diphylla (two-leaved toothwort) are frequently red. And, yes, they gradually change to green as the spring advances. Many plants have pigments in the leaves at this time of year that offer frost tolerance to protect against cold nights in the spring. Best wishes.