Calyx bell-shaped, cohering below only with the base of the ovary, 5-cleft. Petals 5, oblanceolate, entire, acutish, withering-persistent. Stamens 5, shorter than the petals. Capsule 2-celled, 2-beaked, many-seeded, opening between the beaks, the seeds wing-margined, imbricated upward.—A low and reclined-spreading perennial herb, with rounded and cut-toothed or slightly lobed smooth leaves, on slender petioles, and small white flowers in a branched loosely cymose panicle, raised on a nearly leafless slender stem (6–12´ long). Peduncles and calyx glandular; pedicels recurved in fruit. (Dedicated to the distinguished bryologist who discovered our species.)
1. S. Ohiònis, Torr. & Gray.—Limestone cliffs, Ohio to Ind., Iowa, and Minn. June.
5. TIARÉLLA, L. False Mitre-wort.
Calyx bell-shaped, nearly free from the ovary, 5-parted. Petals 5, with claws, entire. Stamens 10, long and slender. Styles 2. Capsule membranaceous, 1-celled, 2-valved; the valves unequal. Seeds few, at the base of each parietal placenta, globular, smooth.—Perennials; flowers white. (Name a diminutive from τιάρα, a tiara, or turban, from the form of the pod, or rather pistil, which is like that of Mitella, to which the name of Mitre-wort properly belongs.)
1. T. cordifòlia, L. Leaves from the rootstock or summer runners heart-shaped, sharply lobed and toothed, sparsely hairy above, downy beneath; stem leafless or rarely with 1 or 2 leaves (5–12´ high); raceme simple; petals oblong, often subserrate.—Rich rocky woods, N. Eng. to Minn. and Ind., and southward in the mountains. April, May.
6. MITÉLLA, Tourn. Mitre-wort. Bishop's-Cap.
Calyx short, coherent with the base of the ovary, 5-cleft. Petals 5, slender, pinnatifid. Stamens 5 or 10, included. Styles 2, very short. Capsule short, 2-beaked, 1-celled, with 2 parietal or rather basal several-seeded placentæ, 2-valved at the summit. Seeds smooth and shining.—Low and slender perennials, with round heart-shaped alternate leaves on the rootstock or runners, on slender petioles; those on the flowering stems opposite, if any. Flowers small, in a simple slender raceme or spike. Fruit soon widely dehiscent. (Diminutive of mitra, a cap, alluding to the form of the young pod.)
1. M. diphýlla, L. Hairy; leaves heart-shaped, acute, somewhat 3–5-lobed, toothed, those on the many-flowered stem 2, opposite, nearly sessile, with interfoliar stipules; flowers white, in a raceme 6–8´ long; stamens 10.—Hillsides in rich woods; N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn. and Mo. May.
2. M. nùda, L. Small and slender; leaves rounded or kidney-form, deeply and doubly crenate; stem usually leafless, few-flowered, very slender (4–6´ high); flowers greenish; stamens 10.—Deep moist woods, in moss, N. Eng. to N. Y., Mich., Minn., and northward. May–July.
7. HEÙCHERA, L. Alum-root.