Chimaphila umbellata (Common pipsissewa)

Chimaphila umbellata (L.) W.P.C. Barton

Common pipsissewa, noble prince’s-pine

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Ericales	Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
Family	Pyrolaceae	Includes at least Chimaphila, Moneses, Orthilia, and Pyrola, and sometimes several genera usually placed in the family Monotropaceae
Genus	Chimaphila	From the Greek cheima, “winter weather,” and phelein, “to love,” from its evergreen habit and referring to one of the common names, wintergreen aka pipsissiwa or prince’s pine
Species	umbellata	Refers to the arrangement of the flowers which arise in a head from a central point, i.e. bearing an umbel

About plant names...

Pipsissewa is a low flowering evergreen plant native to the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Like many forest floor plants that have to make do with limited light, they complement energy from photosynthesis with that from another source, in this case from soil fungi. They are myco-heterotrophs—they parasitize the fungi. They are common in coniferous or mixed forests, with acid, thin, sandy soils.

Plants: 4-14" (10-35 cm) tall, with an umbel of flowering stalks above.

Leaves: Leaves are shiny, toothed, and wider toward the far ends. They are arranged in a whorl, or in opposite pairs, around the stem.

Flowers: White or pink, in groups of two to eight. The flowers hang downward, and are ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) around. Each flower has five petals that are pink at first, turning white, but remaining pink at the base. It has ten stamens.

Fruits: Upright capsules ⅛-³/₁₆" (4-6 mm) around, with five sections. They are reddish brown, drying to a dark brown and remaining through the winter. They split open to release seeds.

Edibility: Leaves can be used as tea or a flavoring for root beer.

Medical: Pipsissewa has a number of unproven uses for kidney and bladder problems, cystitis and edema, and regulation of menstrual cycles. Although plants are not toxic unless used for a long period, neither do they have any confirmed medical uses.

Online References:

Chimaphila umbellata at Minnesota Wildflowers

Chimaphila umbellata on Wikipedia

Chimaphila umbellata on gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Chimaphila umbellata on Plants for a Future

References:

Multiple Authors, PDR for Herbal Medicines, Thomson Healthcare Inc., 2007, p. 654

8/23/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 10 × 8" (25 × 19 cm)

7/2/2017 · Wildlife Pond, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 4" (14 × 10 cm)

Chimaphila umbellata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 28 Dec 2020.

7/3/2015 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 4" (11 × 11 cm)

8/23/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 7" (16 × 18 cm)

8/23/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 4½" (12 × 12 cm)

7/3/2015 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 16 cm)

7/2/2017 · Wildlife Pond, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 3½ × 4" (9.4 × 10 cm)

Range:

About this map...