| an American plant, Dicentra canadensis, of the fumitory family, having yellow roots resembling kernels of corn, finely dissected leaves, and clusters of drooping, heart-shaped, cream-colored flowers. |
| squirrel corn n. A low-growing North American plant (Dicentra canadensis) having finely divided basal leaves, fragrant whitish flowers tinged with purple, and small yellow tubers resembling grains of corn. |
squirrel corn
((Dicentra canadensis), wildflower of eastern and midwestern North American woodlands belonging to the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It gets its common name from the nodulelike, yellow tubers that cluster along the rootstock. The fernlike leaves and flower stalks spring from these tubers. The tremulous, two-lobed flowers resemble those of the bleeding heart (D. spectabilis), to which it is related. The plant is approximately 30 cm (1 foot) tall. Squirrel corn is cultivated as a garden ornamental.
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