Pyrola

Pyrola
Pyrola asarifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Subfamily: Pyroloideae
Genus: Pyrola
L.
Type species
Pyrola rotundifolia L.
Species

See here

Synonyms
  • Actinocyclus Klotzsch
  • Amelia Alef.
  • Braxilia Raf.
  • Erxlebenia Opiz
  • Thelaia Alef.

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.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Pyrola rotundifolia foliage

Pyrola are erect, chlorophyllous or achlorophyllous, up to 35–44 cm (14–17 in) tall herbs or subshrubs with single, glabrous stems. The long, branched, slender rootstock bears fine roots.

Generative characteristics

Detail of Pyrola elliptica flower
Detail of Pyrola chlorantha fruit

The many-flowered, racemose inflorescence 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.

Cytology

The chromosome count is n = 23, 46.

Taxonomy

It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The lectotype is Pyrola rotundifolia L.

Species

It has 42 accepted species:

Pharmacology

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.

References

  1. 1 2 Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Pyrola L. Tropicos. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40021377
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pyrola L. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000769-2
  3. ↑ "pyrola". Oxford English Dictionary (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Luteyn, J. L., & Pedraza-Peñalosa, P. (n.d.). PYROLA. New York Botanical Garden. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/pyrola.html
  5. 1 2 3 Pyrola in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2026, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=127777
  6. 1 2 3 Pyrola in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2026, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=127777
  7. ↑ 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
  8. ↑ Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 723. ISBN 0-394-50432-1.