WHITE OR WHITISH FLOWERS 
Shin Leaf {Pyrola elliptica). Heath family. June to 
August. 
A low perennial, found in rich woods. The single stem 
(bracted scape) , generally under a foot high, bears a raceme of 
little nodding flowers (one-half inch broad or over) with five 
rounded petals, ten stamens, and a protruding style. The leaves 
are evergreen, shiny, thin, oblong or egg-shaped, on stalks shorter 
than the leaves. The plant rises from a long underground shoot. 
The English name suggests its earlier use as an external appli- 
cation. Round-leaved Pyrola (P. americana) is similar to Shin 
Leaf above, but the leaves are round and thick, and stalks 
generally longer than the leaves. One-sided Wintergreen (P. 
secunda) is similar to the Round-leaved, but smaller (maximum 
height nine inches), the flowers all turning to one side; leaves 
egg-shaped, thin. Lesser Wintergreen (P. minor) is a pyrola 
only a few inches high, with very small flowers having short 
styles. The Latin name means a little pear-tree. 
In Gerarde's Herbal (1633), we find the following character- 
istic description of the Pyrola, presumably the Shin Leaf: 
" Pyrola hath many tender and verie green leaues, almost Uke 
the leaues of beet, but rather in my opinion Hke to the leaues 
of a peare-tree, whereof it took his name, Pyrola, for that it is 
pyriformis. Among these leaues cometh up a stalke garnished 
with prittie white floures, of a verie pleasant sweet smell 
like Lillium Convallarium, or the Lillie of the Valley. The 
root is small and threddie, creeping farre abroad imder the 
ground." 
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