Native Plants
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Orthilia secunda
Orthilia secunda (L.) House
Sidebells Wintergreen, One-sided Wintergreen
Pyrolaceae (Shinleaf Family)
Synonym(s): Orthilia secunda ssp. obtusata, Orthilia secunda var. obtusata, Pyrola secunda, Pyrola secunda ssp. obtusata, Pyrola secunda var. obtusata, Ramischia elatior, Ramischia secunda
USDA Symbol: ORSE
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)
Low patches of shiny, bright green leaves below racemes of 6-20 whitish-green or white flowers all turned to one side.
This species is also found south to Central America and in Eurasia. It is the only species in the genus Orthilia; it was once included in Pyrola, a larger genus of species that inhabit damp woods. Both common names refer to the straight, one-sided flower cluster. Leaves remain green throughout the winter, hence the common name wintergreen.
Many authorities show this genus to now belong in the Ericaceae family.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Subshrub
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 10 inches tall when flowering.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , GreenBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Alaska south and east to Labrador, and south to southern California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Nebraska; also in eastern United States and northern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Moist coniferous woods.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FACU | FACU | FAC | FACU | FAC | FAC | FACU |
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Orthilia secunda in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Orthilia secunda in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Orthilia secunda
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-03Research By: TWC Staff