Wildflowers of the United States

American Umbrella Leaf, Umbrella-leaf - Diphylleia cymosa

Genus Common Name: Umbrellaleaf

Native Status: Native

Dicot Perennial Herb

Diphylleia cymosa - American Umbrella Leaf, Umbrella-leaf. Diphylleia is a small genus with only three species; two are Asian and only Diphylleia cymosa - American Umbrella Leaf - is found in North America. It is endemic to the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachians, found in moist areas such as seepages and stream banks in hardwood forests and coves, usually at altitudes of more than 2,000 feet, up to 5,000 feet or higher. The area where it grows was part of the original Cherokee native American territory; it is reported that they used it as a disinfectant.

Found in:
AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA

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Distribution of Diphylleia cymosa in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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Site: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Little River Trail, Elkmont Area Date: 2015-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The inflorescence of Diphylleia cymosa is a cyme, as indicated by the species epithet. The center flower opens first. In this photo you can see that the more central flowers are "older" than the edge flowers.

Site: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Little River Trail, Elkmont Area Date: 2015-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
Flowers of Diphylleia are three-merous - having parts in increments of three. Diphylleia cymosa has 6 white petals as well as 6 stamens in its inch-wide blossom. One of the Asian species has 9 petals; the other has 12.
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Site: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Little River Trail, Elkmont Area Date: 2015-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
Umbrella Leaf stems grow from underground rhizomes, with the plant growing to 4 feet tall or more. The rhizome produce two types of stems, adding one stem per year. The flowering stem type has a pair of leaves, while the non-flowering shoot is terminated in a single leaf, usually somewhat larger than the leaves on the flowering stem. In this photo the leaf on the non-flowering stem appears to be somewhat smaller than the larger of the leaves on the flowering stem - maybe it's the angle. The huge leaf (sometimes 2 feet across!) is divided at the apex and base into two parts, more apparent in the lowest leaf in this photo. Each of the two parts of the leaf has 5 to 9 pointed lobes.
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Site: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Little River Trail, Elkmont Area Date: 2015-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The flowering shoot of Umbrella Leaf is glabrous and terminates in the inflorescence.
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Site: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Little River Trail, Elkmont Area Date: 2015-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D700
The leaf margins of Diphylleia are dentate. Some small hairs are apparent in this photo, and the leaf surface may be pubescent, although that is not readily apparent without close (magnified) examination.
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Site: Blue Ridge Parkway Craggy Gardens Picnic Area, Buncombe County, NC Date: 2015-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
Later in the season the pedicels in the inflorescence will turn red, and will hold small blue fruits.
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References used for identification and information:

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Diphylleia cymosa initially published on USWildflowers.com 2015-06-04; Updated 2017-03-02

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302