Bishop's Cap Flowers and Leaves

Bishop's Cap, April 26, 2005
This view of Bishop's Cap shows several flowers and buds, as well as a pair of leaves. The flowers bloom in a predictable order, starting at the bottom of the stem and working toward the top. Within a week of this photograph, the buds at the top of the stem will also be in full bloom, while the lower flowers will begin to form seeds. The seeds will be as small as sesame seeds and will appear black and shiny. This is a difficult plant to photograph because the flowers are small and white, and the wind causes the stems to move back and forth rather easily. But on a calm morning with diffused sunlight, it is possible to get a good shot of this plant without too much blur and contrast. Though closeups of this flower can be impressive, it also helps to have a "bigger view" of the plant for the sake of identification. Usually, I find this plant in lush forests in low-lying areas with soil that is typically moist.