Pyrola elliptica Nuttall. Common name: Elliptic Shinleaf. Phenology: Jun-Aug; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Moist to dry forests, including rich northern hardwood forests. Distribution: NS, NL (Newfoundland), and QC west to BC, south to DE, nw. NC, WV, OH, IN, IL, IA, NE, NM, and AZ. Known in NC only from a few locations in Ashe and Watauga counties.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA8, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, S, Tat, Va, W, WV, Luteyn et al (1996); = n/a – RAB
Links to other floras: = Pyrola elliptica - FNA8
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
- Great Plains: UPL
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Rhizomatous perennial of moist to dry forests, including rich northern hardwood forests.
Stems: A single flowering scape covered with dry, brown scales, rising from a rosette of leaves.
Leaves: Leaves basal only, petiolate, oval with round tip and tapering slightly at base, to 3 in. long, dull green and thin with barely noticeable teeth around the edge.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a narrow raceme occupying upper half of scape, nodding on short stalks; white; about 1/3 in. wide; consisting of 5 concave, oval petals, a cluster of orange-tipped stamens under the upper petals, and a pale green style curving down below the lower petals like an elephant trunk.
Fruits: Fruit a brown, flattened-round capsule with the persistent style attached at the bottom.
Comments: The similar P. chlorantha . . . .?
Height: 4-10 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Rhizomatous perennial of moist to dry forests, including rich northern hardwood forests.
stems: A single flowering scape covered with dry, brown scales, rising from a rosette of leaves.
leaves: Leaves basal only, petiolate, oval with round tip and tapering slightly at base, to 3 in. long, dull green and thin with barely noticeable teeth around the edge.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a narrow raceme occupying upper half of scape, nodding on short stalks; white; about 1/3 in. wide; consisting of 5 concave, oval petals, a cluster of orange-tipped stamens under the upper petals, and a pale green style curving down below the lower petals like an elephant trunk.
fruits: Fruit a brown, flattened-round capsule with the persistent style attached at the bottom.
comments: The similar P. chlorantha . . . .?
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: