Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 8,
Names
Tiarella cordifolia Linnaeus [family SAXIFRAGACEAE], Sp. Pl., 1: 405. 1753 ,
Tiarella cordifolia var. austrina Lakela [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Tiarella cordifolia var. bracteata Farwell [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Tiarella cordifolia subsp. collina Wherry [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Tiarella macrophylla Small [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Tiarella wherryi Lakela [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Distribution
cauline leaves absent or 1blade 3–13 × 3–10 cm. Inflorescences racemes15–50-flowered4–40 × 1–2 cm. Pedicels subtended by finely dissected bracts0.1–0.8 cmglandular-stipitate. Flowers: hypanthium campanulate3–6 mmglandular-stipitateperianth radially symmetricpetals caducousspreadingoblanceolate to ellipticunlobed0.6–1 × 3–4.5 mmbase clawedapex 3-toothedanthers oval0.3–0.5 mm. Capsules 0.5–1.1 cm. Seeds 4–15ellipsoid0.9–1 × 0.4–0.7 mm. 2n = 14.USA Ala.USA Conn.USA Ga.USA Ky.USA MaineUSA Md.USA Mass.USA Mich.USA Minn.USA Miss.USA N.H.USA N.J.USA N.Y.USA N.C.USA OhioUSA Pa.USA R.I.USA S.C.USA Tenn.USA Vt.USA Va.USA W.Va.USA Wis.Canada N.B.Canada N.S.Canada Ont.Canada Que.
Discussion
Tiarella macrophylla was described from Tyron Mountain, North Carolina; the specimen consists of basal leaves of Heuchera villosa and racemes of T. cordifolia. Tiarella wherryi and T. cordifolia have been differentiated primarily on the basis of lack of stolons in T. wherryi. Such plants grow in mixed populations and it has been impossible to differentiate taxa on the basis of herbarium specimens. It is also thought that the differences between the taxa might be a result of altitudinal variation in habitat. Attempts by Lakela to distinguish var. cordifolia and var. austrina on the basis of leaf dimensions and marginal dentation have been thwarted by continuous variation in these characteristics.
![Tiarella cordifolia Linnaeus [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]](/fsi/img/misc/plants/static_thumbs/flora_north_america_icon96.jpg)