Bleeding Heart
Names
Dicentra spectabilis, Bleeding Heart, Dutchman’s Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Turkey Corn
Description
Short-stemmed perennial herb, leaves are divided and deeply lobed. Flowers are white or pale to deep pink and grow long and nodding. Fruit is a capsule with many seeds.
Concern Level
Only during drought conditions, unpalatable.
Toxic Parts
All parts of the plant are toxic
Symptoms
Occur anywhere from a few minutes to a few days after ingestion and include muscle tremors, lack of coordination, staggering, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, colic, convulsions.
Danger
Contains isoquinolone alkaloids, apomorphine, protoberberine and protopine. Animals rarely die from eating this plant.
More Information
*It should be noted that I’m not a veterinarian. This information is written specifically for horses and should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.