Chimaphila maculata (Spotted wintergreen)

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Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh

Spotted wintergreen, striped wintergreen, spotted pipsissewa

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Ericales	Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
Family	Pyrolaceae	Includes at least Chimaphila, Moneses, Orthilia, and Pyrola, and sometimes several genera usually placed in the family Monotropaceae
Genus	Chimaphila	From the Greek cheima, “winter weather,” and phelein, “to love,” from its evergreen habit and referring to one of the common names, wintergreen aka pipsissiwa or prince’s pine
Species	maculata	Spotted, referring to purple splotches on the stems of leaves or on petals

About plant names...

Pipsissewa comes from the Cree Indian name pipsisikweu, meaning "it breaks into small pieces," from the mistaken belief that the leaves of this plant released a substance that would dissolve kidney stones. They prefer forest floors with medium shade and medium to dry moisture levels. These plants are North American natives. These plants are endangered, so please don’t disturb them.

Plants: Pipsissewa is about 3-5" (7.6-12 cm) tall. It inhabits forest floors.

Leaves: Thick, low-lying, leathery, waxy-looking leaves are dark blue-green when mature, much lighter when young. They have a prominent central white vein that branches out on larger leaves. The leaves are about 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long and ¼-1" (6.3-25 mm) wide. In the winter, the evergreen leaves turn purple. Leaf margins are dentate, with shallow, widely spaced teeth.

Flowers: Nodding white flowers about ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) across appear on red-brown stalks extended several inches above the leaves. Each stalk is tipped by 2-5 curving stems, each holding a flower hanging somewhere between 45° and straight down. Each flower has 5 white petals, 5 light green sepals, ten stamens arranged in perfect symmetry around the pistil, and a green pistil. Flowers appear from late spring to early summer.

Fruits: Flowers become seed capsules that eventually dry and split, releasing tiny seeds.

7/17/2009 · Mt. Lebanon St, Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 6" (12 × 14 cm)

7/15/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, New Long Loop, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 2 × 3" (5.9 × 8.2 cm)

7/4/2011 · Mike and Ellen’s, Milford, Pennsylvania
≈ 6 × 7" (14 × 17 cm)

Here are some similar species:

	*Pyrola americana*	*Pyrola elliptica*	You are here Chimaphila maculata
Common Name	rounded shinleaf	pyrola	spotted wintergreen
Plant	Leaf clusters are low-lying, only 1½-2" (4-6 cm) tall, while flower stalks reach up to 12" (30 cm).	Leaf clusters are low-lying, only 1½-3" (4-8 cm) tall, arranged in basal rosettes. Flower stalks reach 4-10" (10-25 cm). Usually there is a single flower stalk; occasionally there are two.	A low-growing plant (about 9" (22 cm)) that inhabits forest floors.
Flowers	On flower spikes (racemes) with 3 to 22 hanging flowers. Each flower is white, cream-colored, or pink or rarely red, ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) around, with five round petals. There are 10 yellow or brown-tipped stamens, and a green pistil which extends well beyond the flower.	On flower spikes (racemes) with 3 to 21 hanging flowers. Each flower is white or greenish-white, ¼-½" (8.3-12 mm) around, with five rounded petals. Petals sometimes have green veins. There are a cluster of orange-tipped stamens, and a green pistil which extends well beyond the flower. At the base of each flower are five sepals, forming a green star. Flowers appear from June to August.	Nodding white flowers about ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) across appear on red-brown stalks. Each stalk is tipped by 2-5 curving stems, each holding a downward-hanging flower. Each flower has 5 white petals, 5 light green sepals, ten stamens, and a green pistil. Flowers appear from late spring to early summer.
Leaves	Leaves emerge from the base of the plant, in a basal rosette. They are quite *round,* or sometimes egg-shaped, and *shiny,* with a vein structure that makes them look pleated or rippled. Leaf edges are very slightly scalloped. Leaves are 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) around.	Leaves emerge in a basal rosette from the base of the plant. They are *dull,* *oval,* 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long and ½-2" (1.5-5 cm) wide. Leaf edges are very slightly scalloped. The leaves are so low that they are often overtopped by leaves from surrounding plants. Leaf stalks are shorter than the leaf blades.	Thick, low-lying, leathery, waxy-looking leaves are dark blue-green when mature, much lighter when young. They have a *prominent central white vein that branches out on larger leaves.* The leaves are about 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long and ¼-1" (6.3-25 mm) wide. In the winter, the evergreen leaves turn purple. Leaf margins are dentate, with shallow, widely spaced teeth.
Fruit	A dry capsule ¹/₁₆-⅛" (3-3.5 mm) around.	A flattened round dry capsule ¼" (6.3 mm) around.	Seed capsules that eventually dry and split, releasing tiny seeds.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Moist forests at elevations below 1.3 mi (2.1 km).	Shaded woods and stream banks, especially under hardwoods.	Forest floors with medium shade and medium to dry moisture levels.
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild