Looks like Heuchra americana to me. Gleason & Cronquist doesn't mention
drooping petioles. Remember, plants don't read the books!! Judy Kelly

"David Hamilton Cox" wrote in message
...
I took a few photographs of an interesting flower today in Shenandoah
National Park, Virginia. I believe it is probably alumroot, Heuchera
americana, but I am not sure. Both Peterson and Audobon field guides
say that the flowers on that species droop, and these did not. You can
see the photos at http://www.nyx.net/~dhcox/park (the three labeled as
Heuchera). I would appreciate any opinions on the id of this flower.

It was on a dry, rocky slope, dominated by chestnut oaks. The leaves
were about 1.25 inches across; I hope you can see the scale of the
flowers against the context of my hand.

-David Cox