Family: Ericaceae
Author: Nutt.
Bibliography: Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 273 (1818)
Year: 1818
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Pyrola
Vegetable: False
Observations: Canada to U.S.A.
Description
The Wild lily-of-the-valley, a charming and resilient plant, graces the woodlands of North America with its understated elegance. Scientifically classified as Pyrola elliptica, this perennial herb belongs to the Ericaceae family, a diverse group known for their preference for acidic soils and often woodland habitats. Accurate scientific documentation of this plant’s classification dates back to 1818, thanks to the meticulous work of Nuttall, who contributed significantly to the botanical understanding of North American flora.
Pyrola elliptica flourishes in the serene and shaded forests stretching from Canada to the United States. The plant’s adaptability to these regions is a testament to its hardiness and preference for cool, moist environments. Typically, Wild lily-of-the-valley can be found carpeting forest floors, where its rhizomatous roots spread and support the growth of colonies of these charming plants.
The plant’s elliptical leaves are its most notable feature, resembling a lance or spearhead in shape, usually 5-10 cm long, and displaying a rich, verdant green hue. These leaves create a striking contrast against the forest floor, adding a splash of life to the undergrowth. The leaves’ smooth, leathery texture and slightly shiny surface contribute to the plant’s ability to retain moisture in the often dry and shaded habitats it prefers.
During the flowering season, Pyrola elliptica produces delicate, nodding blooms that are as understated as they are beautiful. The petite, bell-shaped flowers, typically white or greenish-white, are arrayed on slender, arching stems that rise gracefully above the foliage. Each raceme holds several flowers, contributing to a subtle yet captivating display. The flowers’ subtlety is matched by their faint, sweet fragrance, attracting the attention of bees and other pollinators that play a crucial role in the plant’s reproduction.
The Wild lily-of-the-valley thrives in acidic soils, often found in coniferous forests where decomposing pine needles enhance soil acidity. Its preference for specific soil conditions highlights the plant’s role in the intricate web of forest biodiversity, where it contributes to the complex ecosystem dynamics.
For botanists and plant enthusiasts, Pyrola elliptica holds a subtle charm, embodying the quiet resilience and beauty of North American woodland flora. Its presence from Canada to the United States emphasizes the plant’s adaptability and the ecological continuity across this vast geographic range. Whether you are wandering through the mixed woodlands of the northeast or the coniferous forests of the northwest, the Wild lily-of-the-valley stands as a delicate reminder of nature’s enduring beauty and complexity.
Common Names
Eng: elliptic shineleaf, large-leaved shineleaf, shinleaf, waxflower shinleaf, wild lily-of-the-valley, shinleaf pyrola, wax-flowered shinleaf, wax-flowered wintergreen, white wintergreen, white-flowered wintergreen
Fra: pyrole elliptique
En: Wild lily-of-the-valley, Shinleaf, Waxflower shinleaf, Shinleaf wintergreen, Elliptic shineleaf, Large-leaved shineleaf, Shinleaf pyrola, Wax-flowered shinleaf, Wax-flowered wintergreen, White wintergreen, White-flowered wintergreen
Fr: Pyrole elliptique
De: Amerikanisches Wintergrün
Synonyms
- Pyrola hybrida (Raf.)
- Pyrola maximowicziana (Makino)
- Pyrola reticulata (Raf. ex DC.)
- Pyrola compacta (Jenn.)
- Thelaia elliptica (Alef.)
Distribution
- Alberta (native)
- Arizona (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Delaware (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Jul 22, 2015 by EOL − Sarah Carline (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jun 21, 2015 by EOL − Dan Nydick (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 8, 2013 by EOL − Kyle Jones (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 18, 2021 by Gord Carter (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 10, 2022 by Victoria Hill (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jul 8, 2022 by Éli Thé (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 4, 2021 by Jean-Philippe Mailloux (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 18, 2021 by Gord Carter (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 18, 2021 by Gord Carter (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Howard, R.A. (cc-by-nc-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jul 20, 2021 by Denise Jupp (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 11, 2013 by EOL − Kyle Jones (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 5, 2013 by EOL − Susan Elliott (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 7, 2014 by EOL − Marv Elliott (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 21, 2014 by EOL − lorena (cc-by-nc)
Taken Aug 10, 2015 by EOL − cdavis5 (cc-by-nc)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2888293)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331810-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Pyrola elliptica Nutt.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Subshrub