[Bishop's Caps and Mitreworts: The Genus Mitella East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Alpine Mitrewort, Five-stamen Bishop's-cap, Fivestamen Mitrewort, Five-stamen Mitrewort

Mitella pentandra

Synonym: Pectiantia pentandra

This photo shows a close-up of the flower of alpine mitrewort as seen in a riparian along forest road #4030 on the northern slopes of Mt. Misery in the Umatilla N.F. of southeastern Oregon..........July 7, 2008. Note that the stamens are opposite the petals.

Inflorescence ofAlpine Mitrewort, Five-stamen Bishop's-cap, Fivestamen Mitrewort, Five-stamen Mitrewort: Mitella pentandra (Synonym: Pectiantia pentandra)

Photo at right of the inflorescence of five-stamened mitrewort as seen from the Bowman Trail below Brownie Basin in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of northeastern Oregon.......July 26, 1997. Note the stamens which are opposite the fringed petals.

Characteristics:

Alpine mitrewort is a perennial with several leafless stems arising from 15-35 cm above several basal leaves. The stems are either entirely bare or may have 1-2 bracts or very reduced leaves. The herbage ranges from entirely smooth to glandular-hairy. The leaf blades are ovate heart-shaped with 5-9 very shallow and indistinct lobes. The leaf petioles are up to twice as long as the leaf blades, which are 2-5 cm wide.

The inflorescence is a raceme of 6-25 flowers (The flowers may occasionally be found as a panicle.). The calyx is a wide saucer from 3-4 mm wide. The calyx lobes are triangular and either spreading or recurved. The green petals are 2-3 mm long and linear with 8 (4-10) fringed lobes spreading to each side of the petal. The 5 stamens are opposite the petals which is different from most of the other northwest mitreworts, which have the stamens opposite the calyx lobes.

Habitat:

Five-stamened mitrewort may be found in moist mountain meadows and in most woods, especially near streams, springs, and bogs.

Range:

Five-stamened mitrewort may be found from Alaska south along the coast to northern California and then into the Sierra Nevada. To the east, it may be found to Alberta and south in the Rocky Mts. to Colorado. It may also be found in the Wallowa Mts. of northeastern Oregon.

This photo shows a close-up of the raceme of alpine mitrewort as seen in a riparian along forest road #4030 on the northern slopes of Mt. Misery in the Umatilla N.F. of southeastern Oregon..........July 7, 2008. Note the numerous glands on the stem within the inflorescence.

This photo shows a close-up of the basal leaf of alpine mitrewort as seen in a riparian along forest road #4030 on the northern slopes of Mt. Misery in the Umatilla N.F. of southeastern Oregon.........July 7, 2008.

This photo shows alpine mitrewort as seen in a riparian along forest road #4030 on the northern slopes of Mt. Misery in the Umatilla N.F. of southeastern Oregon..........July 7, 2008.

Flowers of alpine mitrewort as seen at left along the North Fork Catherine Creek Trail #1905 about half a mile upstream of the first crossing of the North Fork Catherine Creek, Eagle Cap Wilderness.......June 12, 2018. The photo at right shows alpine mitrewort at a moist stream crossing along the Lick Creek Trail #1809, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area......July 17, 2019.

Basal leaf of Alpine Mitrewort, Five-stamen Bishop's-cap, Fivestamen Mitrewort, Five-stamen Mitrewort: Mitella pentandra (Synonym: Pectiantia pentandra)

Another basal leaf of alpine mitrewort from the Bowman Trail, below Brownie Basin in the Eagle Cap Wilderness.........July 26, 1997.

Paul Slichter