Flora of East-Central Indiana

Twinleaf
Scientific Name Jeffersonia diphylla  (L.) Pers.
Family Name Berberidaceae (Barberry Family)

 

Characteristics
Habitat: rich woods
Plant Height: 15-20 cm; erect stem
Flower Color: white
Flower: perfect; complete; to 2.5 cm wide with 8 petals; 4 sepals that fall off
Inflorescence: single flower on long pedicle
Fruit: pear-shaped, capsule 
Leaves: basal; long stalked; divided lengthwise into 2 leaflets; entire; each leaflet ovate to reniform
Bloom Time: April-May
Origins: native
Other: genus named for Thomas Jefferson by Jefferson friend and botanist William Bartram; prefers calcareous soils; this little beauty is a quick bloomer loosing its petals as soon as the flowers are fertilized
jeffersonia_diphylla_habit2.jpg (36865 bytes)

jeffersonia_diphylla_fruit.jpg (9945 bytes)

 jeffersonia_diphylla_leaves.jpg (10608 bytes)
general habit close up of flowers developing fruit leaf

Native Wildflowers ● Trees, Shrubs&Vines ● Ferns ● Grasses&Allies ● Non-Native Species ●  ECI Flora Home

information provided by

FSEEC
Field Station and
Environmental Education Center
Ball State University, Muncie, IN



comments to:
hbrown@bsu.edu