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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

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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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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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:

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