This octaploid (2n = 64) occurs mostly in east-central states from upper midwest to Appalachian regions and New England. It tends to grow in more fertile soil than cucullaria, often with more disturbance from flooding or animals. In addition to its distinctive flowers (with spurs 2-5 mm and incurved versus 7-9 mm and divergent), the leaves of canadensis tend to be more bluish-green and glaucous (versus somewhat yellow-green, not glaucous); ultimate leaf segments tend to be more rounded (but still with a minute point); bulblets are yellow and rounded (versus pink to white and narrowed upward). Its nectariferous spurs are shorter (mostly 1 mm or less versus 1-3 mm), but flowers are generally more fragrant. Plants of canadensis may be as toxic as cucullaria, but there has been little research (Black et al. 1923). However, wild turkeys have been reported to eat bulbs during winter (Glover 1948); and this species, not cucullaria, as been called "turkey-corn" or "turkey-pea" in Virginia (Black et al. 1923).