f f 



372 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AXD SWAMP 



The essence of wintergreen is a pleasant flavoring, in taste re- 

 sembling birch. 



Local names are tea-berry and box-berrj^. 



^^ ^ j 40. Shin-leaf 



P^rola ellfptica (" a pear," from fancied resemblance of the 

 foliage to that of a pear-tree). — Family, Heath. Color, white. 

 Leaves, in clusters at the root, ovate, dull, evergreen, thin, with 

 margined petioles. Ti7fie, June. 



Calyx, 5-parted. Corolla of 5 ovate petals. Stamens, 10, 

 the anthers inverted and opening by chinks. Pistil, i, with a 

 large, curved style, bearing at its apex a 5 -divided stigma. 

 Flowers collected in a spike on a scape, with i or 2 scaly bracts. 



One of our pretty lovers of the deep woods, with rosettes of 

 evergreen leaves at the root surrounding a tall scape finished 

 with a raceme of bright flowers. 



41. Round-leaved Pyrola 



P. rotiuidifolia has rounder, thicker, more shiny leaves, and 

 taller flower scapes than the preceding, on which are numer- 

 ous bracts. Many colors are displayed by varieties of this 

 pyrola, varying from flesh-color to dark-rose tints.- They all 

 have the flowers in racemes, and the protruding upward-curved 

 styles. Sometimes called wintergreen. It is probably one of 

 these pyrolas which Bryant had in mind when he wrote : 



" Away into the forest depths by pleasant paths they go, 

 He with his rifle on his arm, the lady with her bow. 

 Where cornels arch their cool, dark boughs o'er beds of win- 

 iergreen." 



42. One-flowered Pyrola 



Moneses grandlflora ("single delight''). — Family, Heath. 

 Color, \\\\\\ft or pink. Leaves, clustered at the root, rounded, 

 veiny, thin, pointed, toothed; less than i inch long. Time, 

 June. 



