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Mitella diphylla

Twoleaf Miterwort · Two-leaved Mitrewort · Bishop's Cap

Family SaxifragaceaeGenus Mitella

Tiny white flowers on a slender hairy stalk, each with five petals cut into fine snowflake-like teeth around a green center.
FlowerZen sutherlandCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
6-9 in15-25 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

  • Bishop's cap has tiny flowers that offer both pollen and nectar, so its visitors are mostly small bees and flies, such as sweat bees, small carpenter bees and hoverflies. Wikipedia: Mitella diphylla

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 42 days.

24% germination in 28–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mitella p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Mitella (Saxifragaceae). M. diphylla germ. 70(24% in 4-6 w)-40 and 40(17% in 4-10 -w)-70. Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 rotted on contacting moisture showing that DS is not tolerated. Photoexperiments need to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mitella p. 179. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

17% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mitella p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Mitella (Saxifragaceae). M. diphylla germ. 70(24% in 4-6 w)-40 and 40(17% in 4-10 -w)-70. Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 rotted on contacting moisture showing that DS is not tolerated. Photoexperiments need to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mitella p. 179. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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