Mitella is a genus of flowering plants known as miterworts or bishop's caps. Mitella species are native to temperate and arctic North America and Asia.
Description Mitella includes perennials growing from a scaly rhizome, bearing wide heart- or spade-shaped leaves near their bases and flowers with five petals in a long raceme or spike.
Etymology The genus name means "little mitre", from Latin with the diminutive suffix -ella, since the flowers are said to resemble bishop's headdresses. In Classical Latin use, however, means "female headdress" or "sling". Latin comes from Greek "girdle", "headband", or "turban".
Species Four species and natural hybrids are accepted. Mitella diphylla – twoleaf miterwort Mitella × inamii Mitella × intermedia (M. diphylla × M. nuda) Mitella nuda – naked miterwort (syn. Mitella prostrata – creeping bishop's cap)
Formerly placed here Brewerimitella breweri – Brewer's miterwort (as Mitella breweri ) Brewerimitella ovalis – coastal miterwort (as Mitella ovalis ) Mitellastra caulescens – slightstemmed miterwort (as Mitella caulescens ) Ozomelis diversifolia – angleleaf miterwort (as Mitella diversifolia) Ozomelis stauropetala – smallflower miterwort (as Mitella stauropetala) Ozomelis trifida – threepart miterwort (as Mitella trifida ) Pectiantia pentandra – fivestamen miterwort (as Mitella pentandra )
References
External links Jepson's Manual Treatment