Two Leaf Miterwort is also known as Bishop's Cap because its seeds resemble the hats (known as miters) worn by Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop's Cap is a slender woodland plant that can be found in Connecticut. It usually blooms in May and June and has several interesting medicinal uses.
About Bishop's Cap
This delicate two-leaved wildflower is found growing in clumps in rich deciduous woodlands. It is native to the northeast and midwest regions of North America. The two "stem" leaves are located mid-way up the stem and are opposite one another. The basal leaves are coarsely toothed and arranged in a rosette. The flowers rise above the single paired leaves in clusters of up to 20 flowers. Each flower is white, bell-shaped, and delicately fringed with ten yellow stamens. They develop into unusual cup-like fruits with seeds nestled inside. The fruit splits open to form a cup to release the seeds. The shiny black seeds are dispersed when the rain hits the open capsule. This plant grows from a rhizomatous root system composed of fibrous roots.
Medicinal Uses
The Menominee considered the seeds sacred and used them in their medicine dance. A decoction of this plant was used by many communities as an emetic, as a body wash, and as a gun cleaner. A tea was made from the leaves to treat fevers, and an infusion of this plant was used as eye drops to treat sore eyes.
Did You Know...
The flowers produce both pollen and nectar. Because they are small they are mainly visited by small bees like sweat bees, short-tongued bees, and Halicite bees.
The Latin name is Mitella diphylla. The Latin specific name, diphylla means two leaves and refers to its non-basal leaves. The generic name Mitella is "little mitre" and refers to the hat of a Bishop.
Other names for this plant are Fairy Cup, Crystal Fringe Cup, Snowflake, Gem Fruit, and Coolwort.
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