Chimaphila maculata (Linnaeus) Pursh. Pipsissewa, Striped Wintergreen, Rat's Bane. Phen: May-Jul; Jul-Oct. Hab: Forests and woodlands, mostly rather xeric and acid. Dist: ME west to MI, south to GA, FL Panhandle, and AL. Apparently introduced in pine plantations in s. IL (P. Marcum, pers.comm. 2022).
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, F, Fl5, G, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Luteyn et al (1996); < Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh – FNA8, Meso4.1
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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