PRESENTATION OUTLINE
STEERSHEAD (DICENTRA UNIFLORA)
OTHER NAMES: BLEEDINGHEART, SQIRRELCORN)
THESE TINY FLOWERS BEGIN TO APPEAR SOON AFTER SNOW DISAPPEARS. THEY BLOOM WHERE SOIL IS LOOSE AND SLIDING. THESE WERE FOUND BELOW ROCKY LEDGES, IN THE SPRING GULCH/STUART PEAK AREA OF THE RATTLESNAKE WILDERNESS, MT.
STEERSHEAD CONTAIN ALKALOIDS POISONOUS TO ANIMALS.
THIS TINY FLOWER IS SO SMALL THAT IT CAN BE READILY OVERLOOKED. THEY GENERALLY BLOOM IN MID-APRIL IN THE RATTLESNAKE, AND FADE QUICKLY AFTER BLOOM. THEY ARE HARD TO SPOT, BUT SO WORTH THE EFFORT TO FIND THEM.
