[The Saxifrage Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Mitreworts & Bishopscaps

The Genera Mitellastra, Ozomelis, and Pectiantia in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

The flower of leafy-stem mitrewort (Mitellastra caulescens)

The flower of leafy-stem mitrewort (Mitellastra caulescens)

Leafy Mitrewort, Leafy-stem Mitrewort, Slightstemmed Mitrewort, Star-shaped Mitrewort: Mitellastra caulescens (Synonyms: Mitella caulescens, Mitellastrum caulescens) - Heart-shaped leaves 3-5 lobed with teeth on the lobes. l-3 smaller leaves present on the stems. Calyx shallowly saucer-shaped with green petals which are linear with 4-8 thin side branches (fringes). Stamens opposite the sepals. 10-40 cm high.

Angleleaf Mitrewort, Angle-leaf Bishop's-cap, Angle-leaved Mitrewort, Varied-leaved Mitrewor: Ozomelis diversifolia (Synonym: Mitella diversifolia) - Leaf blades ovate with cordate bases, more or less angularly 3-5 lobed, the lobes entire or round toothed. Blades 3-6 cm long. Stems with one small leaf or usually without leaves. Calyx cup- or bell-shaped. Petals white with 3 lobes or teeth at their tips. Stamens opposite the sepals. Stems 15-50 cm high.

Pacific Mitrewort, Three-parted Mitrewort, Three-tooth Bishops Cap, Three-tooth Mitrewort, Three-toothed Mitrewort: Ozomelis trifida (Synonyms: Mitella trifida, Mitella trifida var. trifida, Mitella trifida var. violacea, Mitella violacea, Ozomelis anomala, Ozomelis micrantha) - Leaf blades orbicular with indistinct, toothed lobes. Stems without leaves. Racemes may or may not be weakly positioned on one side of stem. Petals white with 3 lobes or teeth at the tip. Stamens opposite the sepals. Plants 15-35 cm high.

Brewer's Bishops Cap, Brewer's Mitrewort, Feathery Bishop's-cap, Feathery Mitrewort: Pectiantia breweri (Synonyms: Brewerimitella breweri, Mitella breweri) - Leaves heart-shaped and 4-8 cm wide (always shorter than wide) with shallow, toothed lobes. Stems not leafy. Calyx broadly saucer-shaped with green petals which are linear with 6-10 side branches (fringes). Stamens opposite the sepals. 10-40 cm high.

Coastal Bishop's Cap, Coastal Mitrewort, Oval-leaved Mitrewort: Pectiantia ovalis (Synonyms: Brewerimitella ovalis, Mitella ovalis) - Heart-shaped leaves 1.5-4 cm long, up to 2 cm wide. Margins indistinctly lobed. Calyx is saucer-shaped with green, linear petals with 1-2 side branches (fringes). Stamens opposite sepals. Plants 15-30 cm tall.

Alpine Mitrewort, Five-stamen Bishop's-cap, Fivestamen Mitrewort, Five-stamen Mitrewort: Pectiantia pentandra (Synonym: Mitella pentandra) - Leaf blades ovate and heart-shaped and about 5 cm long and wide. Margins shallowly lobed. Calyx is broadly saucer-shaped with 5 green, linear petals with 6-8 side branches (fringes). Stamens opposite the petals. Plants 20-50 cm high.


Paul Slichter