Smooth Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza longistylis)


































     
    
      

     Smooth Sweet Cecily is a native, perennial wildflower in Wisconsin. It grows one to three feet tall. Its white flowers are 1/8 inch wide, and arranged in flat clusters (umbels) at the top of the plant and the ends of branching stems. Each flower has five white petals, five white-tipped stamens, and two white styles that exceed the length of the petals. The leaves are three to six inches long, They are broad, compound, and fern-like. They are divided into three parts, with each part further subdivided into segments. The overall appearance is lush and delicate, providing a lovely backdrop for the plant’s fragrant white flowers. Its native habitats include rich woods and wooded slopes. (LS)