Species PlantsTwinleaf

Twinleaf

Jeffersonia diphylla

UncommonPlant
Illustration of Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla)

Twinleaf is a delicate spring ephemeral of rich, calcareous forests in the Appalachians and Midwest, named for President Thomas Jefferson, who admired the plant. Each stem bears a single leaf divided into two equal lobes and a single white flower that lasts only a day or two. It grows in widely scattered populations and is somewhat uncommon across its range.

Habitat
Rich, calcareous forest floors in the Appalachians and upper Midwest
Diet
Flowers visited by native mining bees; seeds dispersed by ants
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Twinleaf

The best time to see a Twinleaf is March–April, when about 74% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,258 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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