NATURE NOTES FROM ACADIA

FLOWERS OF OUR WOODLANDS - THE PYROLAS

Whereas the fragrant Shin-leaf (Pyrola elliptica) is a common wildflower in Acadia National Park, rearing its attractive white-flowered spikes above the forest floor in a great many localities, the little round-leafed Greenish-flowered Wintergreen (P. chlorantha) and the inconspicuous One-sided Wintergreen (P. secunda) are found here infrequently. According to Britton and Brown ("Illustrated Flora of the Northern States and Canada") the last-named member of this interesting trio of Pyrolas has an exceptionally wide distribution, growing from Labrador to Alaska, south to the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nebraska, along the Rocky Mountains to Mexico and to California. The same species is also found in Europe and Asia.

- Margaret Stupka