USDA Plant Database Map of the geographic range of Bloodroot.
Geographic range and origin: Bloodroot is native to eastern North America. It's range reaches as far north as Nova Scotia, Canada, and all the way south down to Florida. It extends westward as far as the Dakota's and Texas.
Habitat: Bloodroot(Sanguinaria canadensis) can be found growing in moist or dry woodlands and thickets. You will most commonly find the bloodroot growing along streams or floodplains. They rarely grow in open fields or any disturbed habitats.
Description: Bloodroot is a perennial wildflower that begins growing in early spring. They emerge with a solitary leaf wrapped around a single flower. The flower will begin to bloom while the large basal leaf is still wrapped around it's stem. Once the flower has bloomed and the leaf has unfolded, the flower will reach heights from 20-50cm tall, and the leaf will grow up to 12cm tall. The flower has 8-12 white petals, bright yellow stamens, and two sepals that fall off after blooming. The leaf has deep clefts and has 3-9 major lobes.
(Photos above were taken by Travis Mitchell.)
Reproduction: The flowers of the bloodroot do not produce nectar, but they do produce pollen. The flowers may be pollinated by insects such as beetles, flies, and bumblebees. Though insect pollination is preferred because it ensures genetic diversity, if a flower is not pollinated within a 3 day period the bloodroot will proceed with self pollination. After pollination, two-part elongated seed capsules form containing 10-15 seeds in each half. When ripe, the capsules will burst open, sending seeds up to 10 feet away. These seeds have an elaisome, which is a nutrient rich, fleshy coating. This attracts ants, who then carry the seeds back to their nest for feeding. When they are done feeding on the elaisome, they leave the unharmed seed in a waste tunnel. These seeds thrive and germinate due to the nutrient rich soil the ants have created.
Here you can see the different stages of the Bloodroot fruit. Photo taken from http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2013/miemietz_ivy/reproduction&interactions.htm
Conservation status: It is very common and abundant throughout it's range so it is not ranked for conservation in most states. It is listed as "critically imperiled" in Texas due to habitat conversion and collection from the wild.
Ecological importance: The bloodroot flower does not produce nectar, but the pollen is consumed by insects such as flies, bees, and beetles. The seeds of the bloodroot provide food for ant colonies.
Cultural importance or uses: Bloodroot gets its name from the red sap produced by the underground stems and roots. Native Americans used this sap medicinally to treat a variety of illnesses such as ulcers, fevers, and ringworm. They also used the sap as a dye for warpaint or decorating objects such as baskets or trinkets. It is still used today to produce natural dyes, and it is also used as an ornamental since it is attractive and relatively easy to grow.
Linked to this picture, you'll find the phenosphases explained for Sanguinaria canadensis and the datasheet used to record these changes.
(National Phenology Network)
Ivy Miemietz, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Organismal Biology, April 2013. La Crosse, Wisconsin. Url: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2013/miemietz_ivy/reproduction&interactions.htm
USDA, National Resources Conservation Service. 2018. Sanguinaria canadensis L. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC, USA. Url: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SACA13 (Accessed 4/24/2018)