Mitella | |
---|---|
Mitella caulescens | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Saxifragaceae |
Genus: |
Mitella Tourn. ex L. (1753) |
Species [1] | |
| |
Synonyms [1] | |
Mitellopsis Meisn. (1838) |
Mitella is a genus of flowering plants known as miterworts or bishop's caps. Mitella species are native to temperate and arctic North America and Asia.
Mitella includes perennials growing from a scaly rhizome, bearing wide heart- or spade-shaped leaves near their bases and flowers with five petals in a long raceme or spike.
The genus name means "little mitre", from Latin mitra with the diminutive suffix -ella, since the flowers are said to resemble bishop's headdresses. In Classical Latin use, however, mitella means "female headdress" or " sling". [2] Latin mitra comes from Greek mítrā "girdle", " headband", or "turban". [3]
Four species and natural hybrids are accepted. [1]