Pipsissewa

(Chimaphila umbellata)

 

   

 

 

Color drawing: C. A. M. Lindman (1901-1905), Bilder ur Nordens Flora.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata [L.] Nutt.)

Identification: Flowers white or pink, waxy, nodding, arranged in small, terminal clusters. Flower with 5 broad petals. Seed pods round on long stalks. Stem smooth. Leaves in whorls found along the stem, but mostly concentrated near the base of the plant. Leaves thick, waxy, dark green. Outer margin of leaf irregularly toothed. Plant 6 to 12 inches in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of North America, but absent from the southeastern and south-central United States.. Also native to Europe and northern Asia.

Habitat: Pipsissewa is found primarily in dry woods.

Flowering period: July to August.

Similar Species: Pipsissewa is similar to Spotted Wintergreen but lacks the light pattern along the midrib of the leaf.

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