Pyrola elliptica Nutt.

Pyrola, shinleaf, common shinleaf, waxflower shinleaf

Similar species

	Pyrola americana	You are here Pyrola elliptica	Chimaphila maculata
Common Name	rounded shinleaf	pyrola	spotted wintergreen
Plant	Leaf clusters are low-lying, only 1½–2″ (4–6 cm) tall, while flower stalks reach up to 1′ (30 cm).	Leaf clusters are low-lying, only 1½–3″ (4–8 cm) tall, arranged in basal rosettes. Flower stalks reach 4–10″ (10–25 cm). Usually there is a single flower stalk; occasionally there are two.	A low-growing plant (about 9″ (22 cm)) that inhabits forest floors.
Leaves	Leaves emerge from the base of the plant, in a basal rosette. They are quite round, or sometimes egg-shaped, and shiny, with a vein structure that makes them look pleated or rippled. Leaf edges are very slightly scalloped. Leaves are 1–3″ (2.5–7.6 cm) around.	Leaves emerge in a basal rosette from the base of the plant. They are dull, oval, 1–3″ (2.5–7.6 cm) long and ½–2″ (1.5–5 cm) wide. Leaf edges are very slightly scalloped. The leaves are so low that they are often overtopped by leaves from surrounding plants. Leaf stalks are shorter than the leaf blades.	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	On flower spikes (racemes) with 3 to 22 hanging flowers. Each flower is white, cream-colored, or pink or rarely red, ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) around, with five round petals. There are 10 yellow or brown-tipped stamens, and a green pistil which extends well beyond the flower.	On flower spikes (racemes) with 3 to 21 hanging flowers. Each flower is white or greenish-white, ¼–½″ (8.3–12 mm) around, with five rounded petals. Petals sometimes have green veins. There are a cluster of orange-tipped stamens, and a green pistil which extends well beyond the flower. At the base of each flower are five sepals, forming a green star. Flowers appear from June to August.	Nodding white flowers about ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) across appear on red-brown stalks. Each stalk is tipped by 2-5 curving stems, each holding a downward-hanging flower. Each flower has 5 white petals, 5 light green sepals, ten stamens, and a green pistil. Flowers appear from late spring to early summer.
Fruit	A dry capsule 1/16–⅛″ (3–3.5 mm) around.	A flattened round dry capsule ¼″ (6.3 mm) around.	Seed capsules that eventually dry and split, releasing tiny seeds.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Moist forests at elevations below 1.3 mi (2.1 km).	Shaded woods and stream banks, especially under hardwoods.	Forest floors with medium shade and medium to dry moisture levels.

Pyrola elliptica description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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