Pyrola elliptica

Plants rhizomatous, 1.1–2.7 (–3) dm. Leaves: petiole (8–) 12–40 mm, channeled adaxially, glabrous; blade not or, rarely, obscurely maculate, dull and light green abaxially, shiny and dark green, rarely with white tissue bordering larger veins adaxially, broadly elliptic to oblong or oblong-obovate, 12–80 × (8–) 11–57 mm, subcoriaceous, base decurrent or acute to rounded, margins crenulate or obscurely denticulate, apex obtuse to rounded. Inflorescences 1 (–2) per stem, 3–14 (–21) -flowered; peduncular bracts absent or 1–2 (–4), subulate to linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, 3.5–10 × 0.5–1.2 mm, membranous, margins entire; inflorescence bracts subulate to narrowly lanceolate, usually shorter than or, rarely, longer than subtended pedicels, (2–) 2.5–10 × 0.3–1 mm, membranous. Pedicels 3–8 mm. Flowers: calyx lobes appressed or spreading in fruit, green or pinkish with margins hyaline to white, deltate to deltate-ovate, 1.2–2.1 (–2.6) × 1.2–1.9 (–2.3) mm, margins entire or obscurely erose-denticulate, apices acute to short-acuminate; petals white to greenish white, obovate, 6–8.8 (–10) × 3–5.4 mm, margins entire or obscurely erose-denticulate; stamens 4–6 mm; filament base 0.6–0.9 mm wide; anthers 2.2–3.5 mm, apiculations 0.1–0.4 mm, thecae creamy white or tan, tubules yellowish-brown, 0.3–0.6 mm, gradually narrowed from thecae, lateral walls touching for most of their lengths or connivent distally, pores 0.1–0.2 × 0.1–0.2 mm; ovary smooth; style exserted, 5–7 mm; stigma 0.7–1.2 (–1.5) mm wide, lobes erect. Capsules depressed-globose, 3–5 × 3.7–6.6 mm. 2n = 46.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Dry, upland forests
Elevation: 10-1700 m

Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Ariz., Conn., Del., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.Dak., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis., Wyo.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa