Common name:
One-sided wintergreen
Family:
Scientific name:
Orthilia secunda
Synonym:
Pyrola secunda
Main flower color:
Range:
The Rocky Mountain states, all states to the west, and small areas of the northern Great Plains
Height:
Up to 12 inches
Habitat:
Tundra, boggy places, shady woodland; from near sea level to 10,500 feet
Leaves:
Alternate or whorled, ovate, stalked, up to 2 inches long and 1 inch wide, with finely toothed edges
Season:
June to August
Orthilia secunda is found at low elevations in Canada and the Arctic, but for most of the US occurs in higher, mountainous areas, in particular the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades and the Rocky Mountains. This is the only species in a monotypic genus; it was formerly in the genus pyrola, and is distinguished by having flowers along one side of the stem (secund) rather than symmetrically arranged.
The flowers are formed of five greenish petals, partly fused right at the base, forming a cup-shape that encloses ten stamens and a stigma, all protruding slightly beyond the petals. Underneath are five small, triangular sepals. Flowers (typically numbering between four and ten; sometimes many more) are borne on short stalks, angled sideways or slightly downwards. Flowers may be subtended by a few small bracts.
The green stems are vertical or leaning, and are hairless, though may be covered by tiny bumps, more so towards the top. The relatively large, bright green leaves are also hairless, and they have wavy or finely toothed margins.
The flowers are formed of five greenish petals, partly fused right at the base, forming a cup-shape that encloses ten stamens and a stigma, all protruding slightly beyond the petals. Underneath are five small, triangular sepals. Flowers (typically numbering between four and ten; sometimes many more) are borne on short stalks, angled sideways or slightly downwards. Flowers may be subtended by a few small bracts.
The green stems are vertical or leaning, and are hairless, though may be covered by tiny bumps, more so towards the top. The relatively large, bright green leaves are also hairless, and they have wavy or finely toothed margins.
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