Photographer: Janice Stiefel
Oxypolis rigidior (L.) Raf.
common water-dropwort, stiff cowbane
Oxypolis: from oxus, "sharp," and polios for "white;" from the awl-shaped, secondary bracts, and white petals.
rigidior: more rigid
|Plant: ||erect, perennial, 2'-4' tall, smooth forb with few branches; stems flattened; roots fibrous or thickened tubers|
|Flower: ||white, 5-parted; inflorescence a few, 3"-6" wide, stalked, compound umbels with 20 or more spreading, loose, open umbellets; blooms July-Sept.|
|Fruit:||dry, both ends rounded, back very flat with 5 rib-like ridges along each side, splitting into 2 seeds that are 2 times as wide as long |
|Leaf:||few, the wide base clasping the stem; pinnately-divided with 5-9 long and narrow, mostly stalkless leaflets|
|Habitat: ||wet to moist; swamps, marshes, wet prairies, fens|