Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 151 



MITREWORT (Mitella nuda) is a tiny woodland 

 plant that might readily escape our notice were it not 

 for the peculiar little flowers. These are few in num- 

 ber, very short-stemmed, in a loose raceme at the 

 top of a leafless, slightly hairy scape 4 to 7 in. high. 

 The flowers have five petals, each with the edge 

 beautifully fringed so as to give the flower a crystal- 

 line appearance almost like a snowflake. The leaves 

 are on long, hairy stems from the root; they are 

 rounded or kidney-shaped with rough or lobed edges. 



These plants are often called "Bishops Caps" from 

 the cap-like shape of the little seed pods. We find 

 this species from Labrador to Saskatchewan, south 

 to Ct. and Mich. 



TWO-LEAVED MITREWORT (Mitella diphylla) is 



a larger and sturdier species with similar flowers, but 

 with two very short-stemmed, heart-shaped leaves 

 clasping the flower stem oppositely about halfway up 

 its length. The stem has more flowers at its top than 

 the last species and is taller, ranging from 8 to 16 

 inches high. The basal leaves are heart-shaped, with 

 three to five toothed lobes. This species is found in 

 rich woods from N. E. to Minn., south to N. C. and 

 Mo. 



FOAM FLOWER; FALSE MITREWORT (Tiarella 



cordifolia) has the general appearance of the last 

 species. The slender, hairy flower scape, rising 6 to 

 12 in. from the rootstalk, has at the top a loose pan- 

 icle of many small flowers, each, on a long slender 

 stem, thus differing from the short-stemmed flowers 

 of Mitella. The leaves are all basal, on long hairy 

 stems; heart-shaped, lobed and toothed and often 

 mottled with brownish. The flowers have five petals 

 and ten long stamens that give them a fuzzy appear- 

 ance. Foam Flower is common from N. S. to Minn., 

 southwards, flowering in May and June. 



