Pyrola chlorantha : Greenish Wintergreen

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Pyrolaceae (Wintergreen Family)

Genera: Pyrola (Wintergreen) (Gk. Pyrus = a pear tree, reffering to the resemblence of the leaves to those of a pear)

Species: chlorantha

Synonym(s): P. virens

English Name(s):

Greenish Wintergreen, Green-flowered Wintergreen

First Nation Names:

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• All Pyrolas contain a drug related to aspirin.
• Fresh leaves are moistened and used as an effective counter-irritant, left on for a half an hour or longer.
• Leaves are made into a decoction using 6ml chopped leaves boiled 20 minutes. This is said to stimulate urine flow with little irritation of the intestinal lining. Can be used for extended periods.

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• In astrology, Pyrolas are said to be under the influence of the Moon.

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Leaves were used for skin plasters to relieve pain, reduce swelling and heal wounds and bruises.
• Plant decoctions are considered excellent wound healers.

Food: