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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: Maine west to Michigan, south to Georgia, Florida Panhandle, and Alabama. Apparently introduced in pine plantations in s. Illinois (P. Marcum, pers.comm. 2022).

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: A dwarf shrub (with woody stem) and evergreen leaves with broad whitish blazes along the midvein and usually also 1-several lateral veins.

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. We 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, K1, K4, Meso4.1, NS, POWO. 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