CREEPING DALIBARDA

(Dalibarda repens) Rose family



Flowers - White, solitary, or 2 at end of a scape 2 to 5 in.

high. Calyx deeply, unevenly 5 or 6 parted, the larger divisions

toothed; 5 petals falling early; numerous stamens; 5 to 10

carpels forming as many dry drupelets within the persistent

calyx. Stem: Creeping, slender, no prickles. Leaves: Long

petioled, in tufts from the runner, almost round, heart-shaped at

base, crenate-edged, both sides hairy.

Preferred habitat - Woods and wooded hillsides.

Flowering Season - June-September.

Distribution - Nova Scotia to Pennsylvania, and westward to the

Mississippi.



This delicate blossom, which one might mistake for a white violet

among a low tuft of violet-like leaves, shows its rose kinship by

its rule of five and its numerous stamens. Like the violet again,

however, it bears curious little economical flowers near the

ground - flowers which never open, and so save pollen. These,

requiring no insects to fertilize them, waste no energy in

putting forth petals to advertise for visitors. Nevertheless, to

save the species from degeneracy from close inbreeding, this

little plant needs must display a few showy blossoms to insure

cross-fertilized seed; for the offspring of such defeats the

offspring of self-fertilized plants in the struggle for

existence.