| Pyrola | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pyrola asarifolia | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pyroloideae |
| Genus: | Pyrola L. |
| Type species | |
| Pyrola rotundifolia L.1 | |
| Species | |
|
See here | |
| Synonyms2 | |
| |
Pyrola /ˈpɪrələ/3 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.2
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Pyrola are erect,4 chlorophyllous or achlorophyllous,5 up to 35–44 cm tall herbs or subshrubs with single, glabrous stems.4 The long, branched, slender rootstock bears fine roots.6
Generative characteristics
The many-flowered,6 racemose inflorescence with 1–4 scape bracts bears pedicellate, nodding, campanulate,4 radially symmetric5 or slightly zygomorphic flowers.4 The pendulous, loculicidal capsule fruit bears approximately 1000 winged, spindle-shaped seeds.5
Cytology
The chromosome count is n = 23, 46.64
Taxonomy
It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.72 The lectotype is Pyrola rotundifolia L.1
Species
It has 42 accepted species:2
- Pyrola alboreticulata Hayata
- Pyrola alpina Andres
- Pyrola americana Sweet
- Pyrola angustifolia (Alef.) Hemsl.
- Pyrola aphylla Sm.
- Pyrola asarifolia Michx.
- Pyrola atropurpurea Franch.
- Pyrola calliantha Andres
- Pyrola carpatica Holub & Křísa
- Pyrola chlorantha Sw.
- Pyrola chouana Chang Y.Yang
- Pyrola corbierei H.Lév.
- Pyrola crypta Jolles
- Pyrola dahurica (Andres) Kom.
- Pyrola decorata Andres
- Pyrola dentata Sm.
- Pyrola elegantula Andres
- Pyrola elliptica Nutt.
- Pyrola faurieana Handres
- Pyrola forrestiana Andres
- Pyrola × graebneriana Seemen
- Pyrola grandiflora Radius
- Pyrola japonica Alef.
- Pyrola karakoramica Křísa
- Pyrola macrocalyx Ohwi
- Pyrola markonica Y.L.Chou & R.C.Zhou
- Pyrola mattfeldiana Andres
- Pyrola media Sw.
- Pyrola minor L.
- Pyrola morrisonensis (Hayata) Hayata
- Pyrola nephrophylla (Andres) Andres
- Pyrola norvegica Knaben
- Pyrola picta Sm.
- Pyrola renifolia Maxim.
- Pyrola rotundifolia L.
- Pyrola rugosa Andres
- Pyrola shanxiensis Y.L.Chou & R.C.Zhou
- Pyrola sororia Andres
- Pyrola subaphylla Maxim.
- Pyrola sumatrana Andres
- Pyrola szechuanica Andres
- Pyrola tschanbaischanica Y.L.Chou & Y.L.Chang
- Pyrola xinjiangensis Y.L.Chou & R.C.Zhou
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.8
References
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Pyrola L. Tropicos. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40021377
- 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
- "pyrola". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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. ISBN 0-394-50432-1.