Venus' Looking-glass

(Triodanis perfoliata)

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

Identification: Plant wandlike. Petals 4 to 5, barely fused at the base, flower flat with violet-blue petals pointed at the tip. Center of flower light with a long, straight white style. Flower with a short stem (pedicel_ and nearly sessile to the stem. Flowers arranged along the stem, arising from the leaf axils. Leaves rounded, strongly clasping the stem, platterlike. Plant 6 to 30 inches in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of North America.

Habitat: Venus' Looking-glass is found in rocky fields, clearings, and powerline right-of-ways.

Flowering period: May to August.

Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

Similar Species:

The flat, blue-violet flowers arranged along the stem and the rounded leaves strongly clasping the stem are distinctive features of Venus' Looking-glass.

Similar Species

No Similar Species