The buds appear already formed, early in the spring; as soon as the snow leaves the ground they appear as a small, round green ball well settled down in the middle of the leaf-tuffet; this bunch of buds pushes itself boldly up, on its thick stem, which is still quite short when the flowers begin to open. As the stem lengthens the clustered flowers become less dense until, finally, it reaches its full height, and the blossoms, fully expanded, spread loosely apart; they remain in perfection a long time—two or three weeks. The roots of this hardy plant, pushing in among the crevices of the rocks, fracture them by their vigorous growth; this gives it the name of Saxifrage or Rock-Breaker.
EARLY SAXIFRAGE: Saxifraga Virginiensis.
| Mitre-Wort. | Mitella diphylla. |
| Bishop’s Cap. |
Found on moist banks and in light woods in May.
Leaves and flowering stems, to the height of 8 to 15 inches, or more, spring from the root.
The leaf is somewhat triangular in shape, with a pointed tip and deeply heart-shaped base; 3- to 5-lobed, each lobe being slightly cut into 3 or 5 notches, the ribs and veins noticeable, the texture thin and loose, and hairy on both sides, the underside being also glossy; in color a full green. The leaf is borne singly on a long very hairy stem, which is tinged with red near the foot. Small, very short-stemmed leaves also occur in single pairs upon the flower-stems.
The flower is small, exquisitely shaped, with its 5 white petals cut into little branching threads in the semblance of a snow crystal; the 10 little yellow stamens just show within their hollow center; the yellow-white cup-shaped calyx is slightly 5-parted. The flowers are set on tiny foot-stems, and arranged in a spire upon a tall, slender, somewhat hairy stem.
Several leaves and two or three flower spires rise from the earth together, each protected by purple-red sheaths. The sole occasion for its name lies in the quaint shape of the seed.
