Pyrola elliptica
 
Shinleaf Wintergreen

Leaf Top

Centre Block, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
21-July-2012

Elliptica: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

leaves broadly elliptic to oblong; NOT [leaves obovate to subrotund], NOT [leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute]

leaves mostly longer than the petioles; NOT [leaves mostly shorter than the petioles]

leaves 3-7 cm long; NOT [leaves 1-3 cm long]

leaf veins not whitish; NOT [main leaf veins whitish], NOT [leaf veins mottled-white above]

flowers not all on one side of stem; NOT [flowers crowded on one side of the stem (secund)]

sepals more or less triangular, as wide as long; NOT [sepals oblong to elliptic, much longer than wide]

petals white or greenish; NOT [petals pink or purplish]

style conspicuously protruding from flower

style curved; NOT [style straight]

style deflexed at base

style gradually thickened to a truncate collar; NOT [style not thickened upward]

 

Pyrola: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

plants with leaves in a basal rosette; NOT [plants with leafy stems]

flowers several; NOT [flowers solitary]

inflorescence racemose; NOT [inflorescence corymbose or umbellate]

raceme NOT secund

corolla NOT campanulate

 

Pyrolaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]

plants mostly prostrate; NOT [plants mostly upright]

plants NOT climbing

stems not armed with prickles

plants with normal leaves

leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

leaves simple; NOT [leaves compound]

plants with leathery green leaves

NOT [inflorescence terminating the branches, half-round or ovoid]

flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others

stamens less than 10; NOT [stamens numerous]

fruit a dry capsule; NOT [fruit a berry], NOT [fruit a 3-lobed drupe]