Difference between revisions of "Mitella diphylla"

Revision as of 23:01, 16 December 2019

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants not stoloniferous. Flowering stems 10–45(–51) cm. Leaves: petiole 1.8–18 cm, medium and long stipitate-glandular, longer hairs retrorse, white or tan; blade ovate to broadly ovate, ± as long as or longer than wide, 1.4–8.5 × 1.4–9.6 cm, margins shallowly to prominently 3- or 5-lobed, crenate or dentate, irregularly to regularly ciliate, apex of terminal lobe acute, rarely obtuse, surfaces subglabrous or sparsely short and long stipitate-glandular; cauline leaves 2, mid cauline or distal, opposite or subopposite, subsessile to short-petiolate, blade (1.1–)1.6–8 × 0.7–6.5 cm. Inflorescences 1–5, remotely or closely 5–22(–27)-flowered, 1 flower per node, not secund, 10–45(–51) cm, sparsely to densely spreading or retrorsely long stipitate-glandular proximally, short stipitate-glandular distally. Pedicels 1–3 mm, short stipitate-glandular. Flowers: hypanthium broadly campanulate, 1–1.6 × 2–3.4 mm; sepals spreading, greenish white or yellowish green, triangular, 1–1.3 × 0.8–1.1 mm; petals white, 9–11(–15)-lobed, 2–4 mm, lobes linear, lateral lobes spreading or ascending; stamens 10, opposite and alternate with sepals; filaments white, 0.2–0.3 mm; anthers 0.1–0.3 × 0.1–0.2 mm; ovary nearly superior; styles divergent, flattened, 0.1–0.2 mm; stigmas unlobed. Seeds dark reddish brown or blackish, 1.2–1.6 mm, nearly smooth. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Rich woods, hardwoods on ravine slopes
Elevation: 300-2000 m

Ont., Que., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

A decoction from whole plants of Mitella diphylla was used by the Iroquois as an emetic, eye medicine, and good-luck charm; seeds were used by the Menominee as sacred items in medicine dances (D. E. Moerman 1998).

Mitella intermedia T. A. Bruhin ex Small & Rydberg is a presumed interspecific hybrid between M. diphylla and M. nuda. It has been reported from New York and Wisconsin.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa