Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh

Spotted wintergreen, striped wintergreen, spotted pipsissewa, striped prince’s pine

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.

Habitats: 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.

Similar species.

Online References:

Older scientific or horticultural names

Chimaphila maculata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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