Gaultheria ovatifolia explained

Gaultheria ovatifolia is a species of shrub in the heath family which is known by the common names western teaberry, Oregon spicy wintergreen, and slender wintergreen. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in high mountain forests.[1]

Description

Gaultheria ovatifolia is a small, low shrub with stems only about in maximum length, usually growing as a ground-hugging mat. The evergreen pointed, oval-shaped leaves are 2to long and green. The plant bears small, solitary bell-shaped flowers in shades of white to very light pink with reddish bracts. The flowers hang like tiny bells. The fruit is a red berrylike capsule.[2]

Uses

It was a food for the Hoh and Quileute of the Pacific Northwest.[3]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Gaultheria+ovatifolia Gaultheria ovatifolia overview
  2. Burke Herbarium Image Collection| http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Gaultheria ovatifolia
  3. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GAOV2 Plant profile on Plants.USDA.gov