Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Saxifragaceae

Miterwort

(Mitella diphylla)

Color Photograph: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

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

Miterwort (Mitella diphylla L.)

Identification: Flowers white, small, with uniquely fringed petals. Flowers arranged in an extremely open, elongate spike. Flower spike with a pair of sessile, maple-like leaves at its base. Other leaves at base of plant, leaves heart- shaped, with toothed outer margins and long petioles. Plant 10 to 18 inches in height.

Distribution: Minnesota to New England and Quebec, southward in the mountains to Georgia and Mississippi.

Habitat: Miterwort is found in rich woods.

Flowering period: April to May.

Similar Species: The small, fringed white flowers and the single pair of sessile leaves below the flower spike are distinctive.