Seasonal Wild Flowers

Round-leaved Wintergreen

Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. Rotundifolia

Pyrolaceae

June to September

Scattered and rather scarce

See the BSBI distribution map for Round-leaved

It grows in calcareous damp places such as dune slacks,

chalk pits and fens. It is in decline due to loss of habitats.

Round-leaved Wintergreen is a native, rhizomatous,

mycorrhizal, evergreen perennial herb, growing up

to 30cm.

The flower stem (scape) is pale, up to 40cm, with 1

or 2 brown scales.

Flowers are 5-merous, approximately 1cm across,

with pure white petals.

Anthers (10) are orange and the style is 7-8mm long,

and curved with a 5-lobed, capitate stigma.

The 5 ovaries form a fleshy ring round the base of

the style.

The fruit is a capsule.

Leaves are at the base of the stem , round to oval,

and up to 5cm.

Round-leaved Wintergreen in a

dune slack

Close-up of flowers, stamens and style

Flower from above

Rings of ovaries at base of styles

Fruit formation

Leaves

Scale on scape