E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Mitellastra caulescens
leafy mitrewort
Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Ryan Batten  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #66937)

E-Flora BC Static Map
Distribution of Mitellastra caulescens
Click here to view our interactive map and legend
Details about map content are available here
Click on the map dots to view record details.

Species Information

Click on the image below to view an expanded illustration for this species.



General:
Perennial herb from slender rhizomes; stems erect, 20-40 cm tall, glandular-hairy, sparsely leafy.
Leaves:
Basal leaves heart-shaped, 2-7 cm wide, usually 5-lobed about 1/4 to 1/3 their length, sharp-toothed, sparsely coarse-hairy, at least above, long-stalked; stem leaves 1 to 3, similar to the basal but much reduced.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a loosely flowered spike-like cluster of up to 25 flowers, blossoming from top downward, the flower stalks 2-8 mm long; petals yellow-green, the claw slender, the blades dissected into 8 (4-7) linear, opposite, and usually glandular segments; calyces broadly bell-shaped, greenish, 5-6 mm wide, joined to ovary for about 1/3 length; free hypanthium thinly gland-lined, somewhat spreading, about length of lobes; calyx lobes 5, alternate with petals, triangular-egg-shaped; stamens 5, opposite the calyx lobes.
Fruits:
Capsules; seeds black, veiny-pitted.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Wet to moist meadows and woodlands in the lowland and montane zones; rare on S Vancouver Island and the lower Fraser Valley; S to ID, MT, and CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Mitellastra caulescens

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 190 709 1744
Slope Gradient (%) 0 3 10
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
320 319 320
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
5 5 6
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
E
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3
Modal BEC Zone Class
CWH
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: CWH(2), ESSF(1)

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Mitella caulescens Nutt.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References