Native Plants

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Cressler, Alan

Mitella pentandra

Mitella pentandra Hook.

Fivestamen Miterwort, Miterwort

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

Synonym(s): Pectiantia pentandra

USDA Symbol: MIPE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

Round, light green, saxifrage-like leaves occur in basal rosettes. A small plant with tiny, greenish flowers, in slender racemes, and leaves in a basal cluster. A nearly leafless flowering stem, from 4-24 in. tall, bears a spike of tiny, greenish flowers. Each flower has an extremely intricate, snowflake-like design visible only on close inspection.

There are several species of Mitella, all dainty little plants growing in damp, shady places in the West. One species, Bare-stem Mitella (M. nuda), has 10 stamens, the others 5.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall when flowering.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Green to greenish yellow.

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CO , ID , MT , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: AK, s. along the coast to CA & into the Sierras, e. to Alt. & CO
Native Habitat: Moist woods; stream banks; wet, mt. meadows

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: A good ground cover for the woodland garden.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed or rooted stolons.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FACW	FACW			FAC				FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant Society
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Mitella pentandra in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Mitella pentandra in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Mitella pentandra

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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