52 Mitella diphylla.
long, inserted into a joint of the root, round, loosely invested, particularly
near the leaf, with bristle-like hairs. Stems, several from the
same root, erect, cylindrical, hispid, two-leaved. The pair of leaves
much smaller than those of the root, being situated about two or
three inches from the summit of the spike of flowers. The latter
about eight in number, distinctly separated. Flowers cream-white, consisting
of five fringed spreading petals, giving to the front view a
stellated, appearance. On the banks of water-courses near rivulets—
flowering in May. Perennial.
The genus to which the present plant belongs, was so named by
Toumefort, in allusion to the shape of the ripe seed vessel, which,
with its two-pointed lobes, resembles a little mitre. It is, with the exception
of Mitella nuda of Northern Africa, an American genus, consisting
of five known species. The one here figured, rarely exceeds
fourteen or fifteen inches in height, and in the largest specimens the
flow,ers are not larger than is represented in the plate. It grows
throughout the union. Near this city it is pretty abundant on the
Wissahickon creek; I have only met with it there.