Flower ID: IMG_0394.JPG-05-19-2017 Flower name (scientific): Hydrophyllum virginianum Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) hy-droh-FIL-um vir-jin-ee-AY-num Flower name (common): Virginia Waterleaf Family name (common): Waterleaf Family name (scientific): Hydrophyllaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek hydro, for water, and phyllon, for leaf. Specific epithet: From or of Virginia. Common name origin: From a native habitat. The origin of waterleaf is unclear. One suggestion is that water droplets collect in the leaf cavities in the spring. Another possibly more realistic suggestion, is that the early leaves are spotted white, which might resemble water drops or water stains. These spots fade with time. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1.0 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: Lavender to white. Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme Plant description: Erect Size: 6 to 30 inches (15 to 76 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound and lobed. Early spring leaves have patches of white present. Size: Leaves up to 15 or more cm long and 10 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, oval to triangular in outline and deeply pinnately-divided (FWI) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, forests, shade or semi-shade, moist to wet. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Hydrophyllum appendiculatum (Appendaged Waterleaf, Great Waterleaf) and Hydrophyllum canadense (Bluntleaf Waterleaf) have a slight resemblance to Hydrophyllum virginianum. H. appendiculatum can be distinguished from H. virginianum by the appendages on the calyx, which H. virginianum lacks. H. canadense has palmately lobed leaves with typically 7 to 11 lobes, whereas H. virginianum has leaves that are pinnately divided into 3 to 5 leaflets or deep lobes. Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed the roots of this plant for their astringent properties, and they also use the leaves as a food source (Smith, pp. 37, 68, 1923). The Ojibwe used the root as a treatment for flux, and they also utilized the root for pony feed (Smith, pp. 371, 419, 1932). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) In Canada: (MB, ON, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (The other infraspecific is Hydrophyllum virginianum var. atranthum (Alexander) Constance. This variety is native to three eastern US states.)