Common Wintergreen
Pyrola minor L.
Pyrola minor L., a member of the Ericaceae family, is a perennial herb or subshrub reaching up to 0.30 m in height. It is widely distributed across northern regions of Eurasia and North America, including Greenland, Canada, and parts of Europe. The plant thrives in moist environments and flowers from June to August. It is primarily self-pollinating and does not produce nectar or floral scents to attract pollinators. Common names include Common Wintergreen, Snowline Wintergreen, and Lesser Wintergreen.
Description
Pyrola minor L. is a circumboreal species native to the northern latitudes of both Eurasia and North America. It is characterized by its low growth and adaptation to moist habitats. The plant's reproductive strategy relies on self-pollination, as it lacks floral rewards such as nectar or scent to attract external pollinators. The species was first described in 1753 and is part of the genus Pyrola. Its distribution spans multiple regions, including Greenland, Canada, and several European countries. The plant is known by several common names, including Common Wintergreen, which is also its English name.
Other common names
Common WintergreenLesser PyrolaLesser WintergreenLittle ShinleafSnowline Wintergreen
Distribution
Greenland · Labrador · Newfoundland · Alberta · British Columbia · Manitoba · New Brunswick · Nova Scotia · Northwest Territories · Nunavut · Ontario · Prince Edward Island · Quebec · Saskatchewan · Yukon · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · DK · FI · IS · NO · SE · Flanders · Vermont-US · GL · Belgium · Brussels-Capital Region · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · Alaska · Albania
Synonyms
Pyrola montanaPyrola roseaAmelia minorBraxilia minorBraxilia parvifoliaBraxilia squamataErxlebenia minorErxlebenia roseaPyrola confertaPyrola intermediaPyrola minor var. conferta
