Pyrola/ˈpɪrələ/ is a genus of plants in the family Ericaceae native to the region spanning from the subarctic and temperate northern hemisphere to Guatemala and Sumatra.
Pyrola are erect, chlorophyllous or achlorophyllous, up to 35–44cm (14–17in) tall herbs or subshrubs with single, glabrous stems. The long, branched, slender rootstock bears fine roots.
The many-flowered, racemoseinflorescence with 1–4 scape bracts bears pedicellate, nodding, campanulate, radially symmetric or slightly zygomorphic flowers. The pendulous, loculicidal capsule fruit bears approximately 1000 winged, spindle-shaped seeds.
Pyrola elliptica, commonly known as "shinleaf", contains a drug related to aspirin, and the leaves have been used to treat bruises. Its common name derives from its use in shin casting.
↑Linné, Carl von, & Salvius, Lars. (1753). Caroli Linnaei ... Species plantarum :exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas... (Vol. 1, p. 396). Impensis Laurentii Salvii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358415
↑Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p.723. ISBN0-394-50432-1.