Two-Leaved Toothwort
Growth Habit
HerbaceousPropagation
Seed Treatment and Storage: germinates best if seeds are kept moist, then given cold/moist stratification.
Biocultural Value
The rootstock has a peppery, radish-like flavor. It makes a passable substitute for horseradish when grated and mixed with vinegar. The Abnaki, Ojibwa, and Algonquin used the spicy roots as a condiment and many groups also employed them as a cold remedy, digestive aid and throat medicine. The Cherokee used the stems and leaves as a vegetable, either raw or boiled with grease and salt.
Wildlife Value
Lance-leaved and two-leaved toothworts are the preferred host of the West Virginia white butterfly (Pieris virginiensis) which is declining throughout its range due to the spread of invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), which is in the same family as toothwort but does not support the butterfly's larvae. The bee Andrena arabis only collects pollen from Cardamine and Arabis, another genus in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Flea beetles (Phyllotreta bipustulata and P. zimmermanni) feed on the foliage.
