Round-Leaved Wintergreen

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Round-Leaved Wintergreen
• Wintergreen
• round-leaf wintergreen

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Thelaia rotundifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Pyrola rotundifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Ericales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ericaceae, falling under the genus Pyrola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Denmark. Its presence is also documented throughout the landscapes of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species extends its range to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pyrola rotundifolia is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it thrives within the complex structural layers of woodland ecosystems. This species exhibits a significant altitudinal distribution, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 1000 m AMSL to a maximum of 3500 m AMSL. Across its geographic range, it maintains an average elevational presence of approximately 1500 m AMSL, positioning it as a plant well-adapted to the specific climatic and soil conditions found in montane and subalpine forest environments.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Pyrola rotundifolia is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form in which the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or ground cover. This species maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous metabolic processes when environmental conditions permit.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrola rotundifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or liana-like tendencies. As an independent organism, it does not act as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant's stature is relatively low, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.35 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.165 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.165 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pyrola rotundifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its metabolic efficiency, exhibiting a mean leaf size of 10.26 cm² and a mean specific leaf area (SLA) of 178.83 cm²/g. The leaves vary in dimensions, with a mean length of 4.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, while the width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 5.5 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

10.26 cm²

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

178.83 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pyrola rotundifolia is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate efficient reproductive processes. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through July, featuring inflorescences that vary in length from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 0.13 m. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically utilizing insects, with bees identified as key pollinators. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive cycle is well-supported by these biological vectors. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit. These fruits are dehiscent and measure between 0.7 cm and 0.8 cm in both length and width, with an average dimension of approximately 0.75 cm for both parameters. The dispersal of the seeds is an anemochorous process, meaning they are dispersed by the wind. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction the sole method for its propagation.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.13 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.06 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pyrola rotundifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia

Tannins

1. Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia