HEATH FAMILY 



places that one standing by them cannot see beyond the 

 mass of cream colour, and, at such times, the air is flooded 

 by a heavy fragrance that may carry a long distance. 

 From the flowers and from the leaves a soapy lather can 

 be made with water. 



ERICACEAE HEATH FAMILY 



Chimaphila maculata, (L.) Pursh. 



Flesh or Spotted Wintergreen, Dragon's Tongue, 



cream-coloured Spotted Pipsissewa, Wild Arsenic, 



Rheumatism Root, Rat's-bane. 

 June-August 



Chimaphila: Greek meaning to love the whiter, in allusion 



to the popular name, Wintergreen. 

 Maculata: Latin for spotted. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: under pine trees, or on dry, 

 sandy soil of the Commons. 



THE PLANT: stem extensively trailing or creeping below the 

 surface, sending up both sterile and flowering branches, 

 which are three inches to ten inches high and woody at the 

 base. 



THE LEAVES: opposite; lanceolate; one inch to three inches 

 long, or the lower much shorter and obovate; hairless on 

 both surfaces; dark green and mottled with white along the 

 veins; acute or acuminate at the apex; rounded or narrowed 

 at the base. 



THE FLOWERS: umbellate or somewhat corymbose, less 

 than one inch broad; peduncles covered with tiny, soft 

 hairs; the petals five, wide open; stamens white, distinct, 

 with a ring of green at their base. 



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