What plant is that?
Photos: © Peter M. Dziuk, whole plant and leaf closeup, www.minnesotawildflowers.info/; John Gwaltney, flower closeup; Scott Ward, leaf & fruit, fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/
This month’s Mystery Plant is a low growing woodland herb that is a delight to find once or twice a year (ie. common, but not ubiquitous). It is easy to identify because of the whorled leaves in fours and a branched inflorescence of tiny greenish-white 4-parted flowers. The ovate leaves are widest at the middle and blunt tipped. The fruit is covered with barbs and will stick to your socks.
