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Ericaceae
Chimaphila

not marked as a favorite taxon Chimaphila maculata (Linnaeus) Pursh. Common name: Pipsissewa, Striped Wintergreen, Rat's Bane. Phenology: May-Jul; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Forests and woodlands, mostly rather xeric and acid. Distribution: ME west to MI, south to GA, FL Panhandle, and AL. Apparently introduced in pine plantations in s. IL (P. Marcum, pers.comm. 2022).

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: A dwarf shrub (with woody stem) and evergreen leaves with broad whitish blazes along

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The populations attributed to Chimaphila maculata in montane areas of s. AZ, Mexico (21 states), and Central America (south to Panama) represent a far disjunct population, which also differs consistently in its narrower leaf shape and more appressed or obscure leaf teeth than eastern North American plants. I here conservatively regard the eastern North American and Mexican-Central American populations as separate at species rank; they have usually been given either species or variety rank, as Chimaphila acuminata (Lange) Rydberg or Chimaphila maculata var. acuminata Lange.

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, Fl5, G, Il, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Luteyn et al (1996); < Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh — FNA8, K4, Meso4.1; Pyrola maculata Linnaeus. Basionym: Pyrola maculata L. 1753

Links to other floras: < Chimaphila maculata - FNA8

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Heliophily ⓘ: 3

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image #1 of Chimaphila maculata© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Chimaphila maculata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Chimaphila maculata© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Chimaphila maculata© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Chimaphila maculata© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Chimaphila maculata© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Chimaphila maculata© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Chimaphila maculata© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Chimaphila maculata© Gary P. Fleming
image #10 of Chimaphila maculata© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Short, erect perennial found in forests and woodlands, usually of a drier, more acidic type.

Stems: Stems slightly woody, unbranched, pinkish above the leaves, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate to whorled, petiolate, oval to lance-shaped (broadest below middle), to 4 in. long, sharply toothed, leathery and variegated with white along veins.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers (2-5) on short, nodding stalks branched from top of pinkish stem; waxy-white (sometimes tinged with pink); about 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading concave petals surrounding a prominent green ovary and 10 stamens.

Fruits: Fruit a ribbed, round capsule on a now-erect stalk.

Comments: "Wintergreen" in the common name refers to the evergreen habit of the leaves (foliage and stem lack a scent).

Height: 4-8 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Short, erect perennial found in forests and woodlands, usually of a drier, more acidic type.

stems: Stems slightly woody, unbranched, pinkish above the leaves, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate to whorled, petiolate, oval to lance-shaped (broadest below middle), to 4 in. long, sharply toothed, leathery and variegated with white along veins.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers (2-5) on short, nodding stalks branched from top of pinkish stem; waxy-white (sometimes tinged with pink); about 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading concave petals surrounding a prominent green ovary and 10 stamens.

fruits: Fruit a ribbed, round capsule on a now-erect stalk.

comments: "Wintergreen" in the common name refers to the evergreen habit of the leaves (foliage and stem lack a scent).

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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