This unique and rare delicate perennial has four bone white petals
that become transparent when wet, as by the rain, or heavy dew
lingering in damp places, such as the woods of high mountains
in Japan or China, where it was discovered. I thought of foothill
haunts in Southern Appalachia and wondered if it would survive
there, or if it might need somewhere cooler to take root and thrive.
The plants themselves spread underground by rhizome and these
may be divided or it may be seeded and grown as a groundcover
in some zones, with cool, dappled light, such as is in the home place.
Wet petals easily open, exposing veins and internal support structures,
extending flat out, clearly to capture more sunlight, along with huge
umbrella leaves, also channeling moisture for growth and reproduction.
The petals begin regaining bone color as they dry and close. Flowering
only happens from May to July. Then come fruits, very like blueberries,
small in dark blue to purplish hues and coated with a fine white powder.
These are edible. Would you dare try a fruit from the lovely skeleton flower?
DoubleSpeak 