Western teaberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western teaberry |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gaultheria
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| Species: |
ovatifolia
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The Gaultheria ovatifolia is a small plant known by its common names: western teaberry and Oregon spicy wintergreen. It is a type of shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. This plant belongs to the heath family, which includes other well-known plants like blueberries and rhododendrons.
You can find the western teaberry growing in the western parts of North America. It lives in places from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to California in the United States. It especially likes to grow in high mountain forests.
Contents
What the Western Teaberry Looks Like
The western teaberry is a small plant. Its stems usually grow to be about 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long at most. It stays low to the ground.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are oval-shaped and pointed. They are green and measure about 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long.
The plant also has small, bell-shaped flowers. These flowers are usually white or a very light pink color. They hang down like tiny bells. Reddish bracts, which are like small leaves, are found near the flowers.
Fruit
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a red, berry-like capsule. It looks like a small berry.
How People Used the Western Teaberry
For a long time, the fruit of the western teaberry was an important food source. It was eaten by the Hoh and Quileute people. These Native American tribes live in the Pacific Northwest region. They used the plant as part of their traditional diet.
