Pyrola grandiflora : Arctic 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: grandiflora (Lat. grandis= full grown, great + flos= flower; reffering to the relatively large flowers)

Synonym(s): P. rotundifolia var. grandiflora

English Name(s):

Arctic Wintergreen, Arctic Pyrola, Large-flowered Wintergreen

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Plant 6-25cm tall, from slender rhizomes (underground stems).
• Stems with 1-2 ovate-oblong, scarious, bracts (leaflets).

Leaves:

• Basal, on 1-8cm long petiole (stalk).
• Blade 1-4.5cm long by 1-5cm wide, thick, lustrous, rounded with a nearly entire (smooth) margin.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorecense a 4-11 flowered raceme (flowering stalk).
• Flowers, scented, large
• Petals creamy white, 7-12mm long.
• Sepals petal like, oblong in shape, 2-4mm long.
• Anthers (male parts) yellow, opening by pores on very short tubes at the tips.
• Style (female parts) long, somewhat curved at maturity, with a ring below the stygma (top part).

Seed:

• Fruit is a many seeded capsule

Not to Be Confused With:

• Could be mistaken for Pyrola chlorantha (Greenish Wintergreen) whose leaves and flowers are smaller.
• Could also be mistaken for Pyrola minor (Lesser Wintergreen) whose style (female part) does not protrude past the petals.

Physiology:

• Wintergreens grow very few feeding roots along their rhizomes (underground stems). They depend on myhorrhizal (root) fungi to get enough nutrients.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Evergreen leaves
• Generally finnished blooming by third week of July.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Frequent to common in open boreal woodland
• Sunny tundra slopes and sheltered heathlands

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 mixed with red wine and a little cinnamon then heated to make a decoction, were said to cure bloody stools, ulcers of the bladder, and to restrain menstruation.
• Plant juice was taken with wine to stop bleeding of the bowels, internal wounds, and ulcers.
• Plants were said to be astringent and antisposmatic, to increase urine flow and to act as a tonic.
• The decoction was taken for treating skin diseases, teberculosis of the lymph glands, epilepsy and other nervous affections, was used as a gargle , and as a wash for inflammed eyes.
• Leaves were used for skin plasters to relieve pain, reduce swelling and heal wounds and bruises.
• Plant decoctions are considered excellent wound healers.

Food: