TWINLEAF 



Jejfersonia diphylla (Linnaeus) Persoon 



JefFersonia, commonly called twinleaf, is one of the earliest of 

 spring flowers. It blooms before the leaves are fully developed, and 

 is somewhat like a bloodroot in appearance. The long-stemmed leaf 

 blades are parted nearly to the base, and as they are blown about by 

 the wind, remind one of a group of green butterflies, though they 

 lose this resemblance when fully developed, for they are then rather 

 stiff; This plant, which was named for Thomas Jefferson, can be 

 easily cultivated in a wildflower garden under the same conditions 

 that will render the bloodroot happy 



Jeffersonia is most abundant west of the Appalachian Mountains, 

 from Tennessee northward to Minnesota, Ontario, and central New 

 York; locally, however, it has crossed the mountain barrier and pushed 

 down the river valleys, notably along the Potomac River in Virginia 

 and Maryland. 



The sketch was made from a beautiful clump growing on Plum- 

 mers Island in the Potomac River near Washington, District of 

 Columbia. 



PLATE Jl. 



