Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh

Spotted Wintergreen; Striped Prince's Pine; Pipsissewa

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Pipsissewa is a native evergreen subshrub in the Heath family (Ericaceae). It can be found primarily in the northern half of Alabama. Pipsissewa occurs in dry pine forests, mixed pine/deciduous forests, and in sandhills. Plants are rhizomatous, and often form small colonies. Stems are erect, 3-8 inches in height, glabrous, terete, and reddish-brown in color. The leaves are alternate (sometimes appearing whorled), petiolate, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate in outline, glabrous, with coarsely toothed margins. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green with white or gray areas along the midrib and larger veins. Flowers are produced in 2-5 flowered corymbs. Individual flowers are nodding, actinomorphic, and white or pink in color. Each flower has 5 ovate, green sepals, and 5 white or pink petals. There are 10 stamens with tan or pinkish anthers and a large green stigma. The anthers open by basal pores. The fruit is a capsule. Pipsissewa is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It is slow growing, and requires the presence of a mycorrhizal fungus to do well. It prefers a site with acidic, sandy, well-draining soil in light shade.—A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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