DECANDRIA DIGYNIA 2?i 



wards the base, and dicbotomously branching near the summit. Leaves 1 third to 

 3 fourths of an inch long, and generally wider than long, somewhat fleshy, obtuse 

 or rounded at apex, abruptly and often truncately narrowed at base to a flaip* 

 Hole 1 to 2 or 3 lines long, generally in opposite pairs, not unfrequently single just 

 below the subterminal bifurcations of the stem. Flowers sessile, terminal, axillary 

 and dichotomal, and thus appearing somewhat corymbose on the short terminal 

 branches. Calyx 4-cleft. Stamens generally, if not always, 8, (sometimes want- 

 ing?), very short, inserted in the notches of the crenate disk which surrounds the 

 <vary ; a?it Iters reddish orange-color. Capsule adnate to the calyx at base, 1-celUd, 

 terminating in 2 ovoid acuminate diverging lobes, partially opening by 2 valves. 

 Seeds globose, hispid, reddish brown. 



Ilab. Shaded springs, and rocky rivulets : frequent* Fl. April, May. Fr. May, June* 



Obs. Prof. Hooker appears to be confident that this is distinct from the European 

 C. opjyositi folium. It is uncertain whether we have any other species in the U# 

 States ;— though Prof. H. enumerates 2 in British America. 



216. MITELLA. />. Mitt. Gen. 407. 

 * [I^atin, diminutive of Mitra, a cap; the seed-vessel resembling a little Mitre.'] 



Calyx campanulatc, 5-cleft, partially adnate to the base of the ovary. 

 Petals 5, pinnatifid, inserted on the calyx, Styles short, diverging. 

 Capsule 1 -celled, semi-bivalved ; valves equal. Seeds numerous, erect 

 in the bottom of the capsule. 



Herbaceous : leaves mostly radical ; scape bifoliate, or naked ; flowers in a ter- 

 minal raceme. Nat. Ord. 3S. Lindl. Saxifrages. 



1. M. dtphtlla, L. Radical loaves cordate, acute, sub-Iobed, dentate, 

 on long petioles ; scape with 2 opposite sessile acuminate and often 3- 

 lobed leaves above the middle ; petals fimbriatc-pinnatifid. Beck, Bot. 

 ft. 138. Icox, Bart. Am. 3. tab. 89. 



Two-leaved Mitella. Vulgo— Bishop's cap. Bastard Amer. Sanicle* 



Root perennial. Radical leaves an inch and half to 3 inches long, and'l to near 

 3 inches wide, round ish-cordate at base, tapering at apex, somewhat lobed, doubly 

 and unequally inciscd-dentate, membranaceous, with bristly hairs on the upper 

 surface, margin, and nerves beneath ; petioles 2 to 6 inches long, clothed with nu- 

 merous white and rather retrorse bristles, especially near the leaf. Scape 12 to IS 

 inches high (often several from the same root), slender, striate, slightly pubescent, 

 with 2 opposite sessile leaves an inch or two below the raceme. Flotcers a little 

 distant, in a simple slender terminal raceme 4 to 8 inches in length ; pedicels 1 to 

 2 lines long, pubescent, each with a minute obtuse bract at base. Calyx campanu- 

 latc, the free portion becoming scarious ; segments ovate, acute. Petals white, 

 twice as long as the calyx, deeply pinnatifid towards the apex, entire and cuneate 

 at base, inserted between the calyx-segments. Stamens very short, inserted on 

 the calyx near the limb, or orifice. Ovary adnate to the bottom of the calyx, com- 

 pressed, ovate, minutely muricate ; styles very short, diverging, persistent ; stigmas 

 obtuse. Capsule somewhat compressed, roundish, opening between the styles 

 nearly half way to the base. Seeds obovoid, tapering at base, subcompressed, 

 slightly and obtusely margined, obscurely punctate, purplish black, smooth and 

 shining. 



Hah. Moist rich woodlands; along Brandywine: frequent. FL April, May. Fr. June. 



Obs. Two or three additional species are enumerated in tht U. Statei . 



