Toothwort

Toothwort is a spring ephemeral wildflower of eastern North American forests in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. It appears early in the season and often disappears above ground by early summer.

Two-leaved toothwort, Cardamine diphylla, is a primary host, and cut-leaved toothwort, Cardamine concatenata, is also used. The butterfly involved is the West Virginia white, Pieris virginiensis. [Cornell Botanic Gardens](https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/plant/two-leaved-toothwort)

Female butterflies lay their eggs on native toothworts, and the emerging caterpillars feed on those leaves. The plant therefore supports the larval stage rather than merely providing nectar for adult butterflies.

Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, can replace native toothwort in woodland habitats. West Virginia whites may lay eggs on it, but the invasive plant does not provide the same safe larval food and can kill the caterpillars. [West Virginia Department of Natural Resources](https://wvdnr.gov/protecting-west-virginias-rarest-butterflies/)