Merrybells Uvularia perfoliata

Perfoliate Bellwort is a native perennial wildflower found in moist to somewhat dry hardwood forests along the eastern coast of North America.  This variety is becoming increasingly rare in some of its native territory.  It grows best in soil that are rich in humus. In North Carolina, it is common in the Mountains and Piedmont, but rare on the coast.  Its common name Perfoliate Bellwort arises from the way the stem appears to pierce through the leaf blade.  There are typically 1 to 4 leaves below the fork in the stem. There is one leaf per node along the stem.

An early bloomer and early to go into dormancy, it can be readily identified in a still brown leaf cover of the winter forest.  Later on the growing season it will become dormant.  

A solitary flower with 6 tepals will sprout on each stem.  The tepals are up to 1.25" long and have a granular texture on the inside.  

If the conditions are favorable, it will spread through fleshy, white underground stolons to form a colony. 

The leaves and roots are edible.  The young shoots can be cooked and are a good substitute for asparagus. The roots can be eaten after being cooked.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   Can be endangered by competition with invasive species of plants.