Mitella diphylla - (image 1 of 4)
Taxonomy
Family: Saxifragaceae
Habitat
Bogs, wet woods.
Associates
Often growing in moss
Distribution
Throughout Canada. In the U.S. from New England south to NY, PA, and west through the Great Lakes to MT, WA. Also occurs in eastern Asia.
Morphology
Rhizomatous perennial herb to 20 cm. Basal leaves with long petioles, rounded or reniform, cordate at the base, margin wavy or shallowly lobed, crenate, hairy below; cauline leaves 1 or absent, sessile, with a few teeth. Inflorescence a raceme to 10 cm long; flowers perfect, regular, perigynous; petals 5, yellow-green, deeply fimbriate, the segments divergent; stamens 10; carpels 2.
Notes
Flowers May to June
Wetland indicator: Facultative Wetland
Likely to be overlooked except when in bloom, and even then a small, inconspicuous plant. Endangered in PA which is at the southern extent of its range.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of
Northeastern United States
and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
USDA, NRCS. 2002.
The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
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Michael Hough © 2009 |