Perennials; glabrous throughout. Rhizomes (tuberiform, fragile), moniliform, segments oblong, 3-5 mm diam., (fleshy). Stems erect, unbranched, 1-3.5 dm. Rhizomal leaves palmately compound (biternate), 7-20 cm, leaflets petiolulate; petiole 4-13 cm; lateral leaflets similar to terminal, blade sometimes smaller; terminal leaflet (petiolule 1-3(-4) cm), blade ternately or pinnately lobed, (distal segment) linear, 0.7-3.5 cm × 0.6-3 mm, base attenuate to cuneate, margins entire (apiculate). Cauline leaves (2 or) 3, palmately compound (biternate, similar to rhizomal leaves, alternate to subopposite), petiolate, leaflets petiolulate; petiole (0.5-)1-4(-5.5) cm, base not auriculate; lateral leaflets similar to terminal; terminal leaflet (petiolule (0.3-)0.7-1.5(-2.5) cm), blade (ternate, distal segment) linear, (0.4-)1.5-5(-6.5) cm × 0.7-4(-6) mm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire. Racemes ebracteate. Fruiting pedicels ascending to divaricate, 10-25(-35) mm. Flowers: sepals oblong, 4-6 × 1.5-2 mm, lateral pair not saccate basally; petals white to pale pink, oblanceolate, 9-15 × 2-4 mm, (not clawed, apex rounded); filaments: median pairs 6-7.5 mm, lateral pair 3-5 mm; anthers linear, 1.5-2.5 mm. Fruits linear-lanceolate, 2-3.5 cm × 1.5-2 mm; ovules 10-14 per ovary; style 4-7(-10) mm. Seeds brown, oblong, 1.5-2.5 × 1-1.5 mm. 2n = 64, 112.
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Rhizome constricted at intervals, the segments elongate; stems 2–4 dm, glabrous; basal lvs usually present at anthesis, resembling the cauline; cauline lvs 2, opposite or nearly so, biternate into linear entire segments 2–4 mm wide, these sometimes with lateral linear lobes; sep 4–6 mm; pet 10–14 mm, anthocyanic; frs 2–4 cm; 2n=64, 112. Rich moist woods; c. O. and s. Ind. to n. Ga. and n. Ala. Mar., Apr. (Dentaria furcata; D. multifida)
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