Dentaria dissecta Leavenworth, Amer. J. Sci. Arts 7: 62. 1824; Cardamine angustata O. E. Schulz var. multifida (Muhlenberg ex Elliott) H. E. Ahles; C. laciniata (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) Alph. Wood subsp. multifida (Muhlenberg ex Elliott) O. E. Schulz; D. furcata Small; D. heterophylla Nuttall var. multifida (Muhlenberg ex Elliott) H. E. Ahles; D. laciniata Muhlenberg ex Willdenow var. multifida (Muhlenberg ex Elliott) S. Watson & J. M. Coulter; D. multifida Muhlenberg ex Elliott

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.

Flowering Mar-May. Oak-hickory woods, moist loamy areas, floodplain woods, bluffs, rocky calcareous woods, limestone slopes, along streams; 0-300 m; Ala., Ga., Ind., Ky., N.C., Ohio, Tenn.