American wintergreen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids American wintergreen |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pyrola
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| Species: |
americana
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The American wintergreen, also known as Pyrola americana, is a small plant found in North America. It is native to Canada and the United States. This plant is known for its pretty white to pinkish flowers and dark green leaves. You can often find it growing in moist forests.
Discovering American Wintergreen
Where American Wintergreen Grows
This interesting plant is native to both Canada and the United States. You can find it in many Canadian provinces, from Newfoundland all the way to Manitoba. It also grows in St. Pierre & Miquelon. In the United States, it lives in the northeastern states, stretching south along the Appalachian Mountains to Tennessee. It's also found in all the states around the Great Lakes and in the Black Hills of South Dakota. American wintergreen likes damp forests and can grow at high elevations, sometimes up to 2,100 meters (about 6,900 feet) above sea level.
What American Wintergreen Looks Like
The American wintergreen is a small herb, usually no taller than 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches). It spreads using special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant grow and spread across the forest floor. Its leaves are round or egg-shaped and can be up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. They are usually dark green with lighter, whitish lines along their veins. The plant produces flowers that can be white or have a pinkish color. After the flowers, it forms a dry fruit called a capsule, which is about 4 millimeters (about 0.15 inches) wide.
