Pyrola minor : Lesser Wintergreen

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Pyrolaceae (Wintergreen Family)

Genera: Pyrola (Wintergreen) (Gk. Pyrus = a pear tree, reffering to the resemblence of the leaves to those of a pear)

Species: minor

English Name(s):

Lesser Wintergreen,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Plants to 25cm or more high at maturity.
• Stems usually with only one scarious bract (leaflet).

Leaves:

• Dark green, dull.
• Oblong
in shape.
• Margins flat-crenulated.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorecnese a slender spike like raceme (flowering stalk).
• Flowers small, scentless, globular, pink to white.
• Style (female part) short, straight, not extending out of the flower.
• Anthers (male parts) yellow.

Seed:

• Fruit a many seeded capsule.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Could be mistaken for Pyrola chlorantha (Greenish Wintergreen) or Pyrola grandiflora (Arctic Wintergreen). Both of these species have styles (female parts) that are long and stick out of the flowers.

Physiology:

• Wintergreens grow very few feeding roots along thier rhizomes (underground stems). They depend on myhorrhizal (root) fungi to get enough nutrients.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Evergreen leaves

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• In sheltered mossy places in woodlands.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• All Pyrolas contain a drug related to aspirin.
• Fresh leaves are moistened and used as an effective counter-irritant, left on for a half an hour or longer.
• Leaves are made into a decoction using 6ml chopped leaves boiled 20 minutes. This is said to stimulate urine flow with little irritation of the intestinal lining. Can be used for extended periods.

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• In astrology, Pyrolas are said to be under the influence of the Moon.

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Leaves were used for skin plasters to relieve pain, reduce swelling and heal wounds and bruises.
• Plant decoctions are considered excellent wound healers.

Food: