Names and Myths

Hydrophyllum Greek hydor water phyllon leaf

virginianum of Virginia

Natural history / Folklore

Young leaves have been used as salad². Used in the form of a root tea for the treatment of diarrhea, or mouth sores and cracked lips by the American Indians.⁷²

Description

May – June White to dark purple flowers, leaves look water spotted, rich woods, moist shaded slopes and wood borders. Long stalked feathery leaves normally with five to seven pointed segments, that look water spotted. Five sepals and five petals united into a tube, flowers clustered on weak stems.¹⁴