Flower Spotlight: Purple Cress

Although the flowers are almost identical to those of the cut-leaf toothwort, the Purple Cress can be clearly identified by the basal leaves; they are about 1" long and across, cordate-orbicular, and bluntly dentate or undulate along their margins (see photos below). 
This native plant blooms in early spring in damp woodlands and by early summer it has released its seeds and died down. 
Now is a great time to see them popping up in many natural areas in Ohio.
​Happy Hiking!