Synonymy: Bicuculla eximia (Ker-Gawl.) Millsp.Lower Taxa: none
Origin: Native, Eastern North America
Habit: Herb, basal rosette,
Habitat: Rich acidic woodlands, rocky ledges and slopes
Range: New Jersey observations from Warren County, Old specimens from Bergen and Essex Counties
Frequency: Historic
Rank/Status: G5, SH/Endangered
Wetland Status: FACU
Flowering & Reproduction: Early spring, capsules mature July to August
Comments: Flora of New Jersey’s first plant of the month. This species was once an infrequent member of the Northern New Jersey Piedmont, Highland and Valley and Ridge flora. No recent specimens have been observed and the SH plant is now part of New Jersey’s vanishing native flora. Wild Bleeding Heart classification has been in flux based on the elevation and reduction of family/subfamily status. The plant once was in Fumitory Family, Fuminaceae. Today the APG includes the genus within the Poppy Family, Papaveraceae, under the Fumintory subfamily. This is the same designation applied by Fernald (1950). Mapped distribution of Wild Bleeding Heart is limited to specimens from Chrysler Herbarium (CHRB) at Rutgers University at this time.
Reference Specimen: Knowlton, Warren, J.L. Edwards, 1933, CHRB 12387.
