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Jeffersonia Diphylla - Twinleaf

Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) is a smooth herbaceous, perennial herb that grows from 8 to 20 inches tall. The leaves are basal, on stalks, and 6 inches tall, but they grow taller after flowering. The leaves are divided into 2 kidney-shaped leaflets that are 1.5" wide and grow wider after flowering. The leaves are present throughout the summer but the flower is short-lived. 

The flowers are showy and white with 8 petals, each of which are 3/4" long. There are 4 white sepals that shed early, 8 stamens, and 1 pistil. The flowers are borne on leafless stalks. The flowers are present from March through April. 

The fruits are pear-shaped and about .75" long and open by a lid at the top. 

Twinleaf is found in rich, moist woods and are particularly common on limestone soils throughout much of the eastern US.

Twinleaf is also known as Ground Squirrel Pea, Rheumatism Root, and Yellow Root. It was named for former US president Thomas Jefferson who had an extensive knowledge of botany and zoology. This is the only species of Jeffersonia in the US. There is one other, but it is found in eastern Asia. 




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  • Home
  • Animals
    • Birds >
      • Avian Taxonomy
      • Bird Species Profiles
    • Mammal Species Profiles
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians >
      • Frog and Toad Species Profiles
    • Fish
    • Arthropods >
      • Arthropod Species Profiles
  • Plants
    • Native Plant Societies
    • Eastern Plant Identification Guide
  • Fungi
    • Fungi Species Profiles
  • Protists
  • Nature Products Store
  • Cell Phone Ringtones
  • Madbird Feeder Cam
  • Ramblings of the Madbird Biologist
  • Bird Videos
  • News in Science
  • Nature Inspired Recipes
  • An Introduction to Scientific Classification and Naming
  • Birds in the Classroom
  • Resources
  • About Me