Ericaceae FAMILY

Pyrola minor

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Pyrola minor is an evergreen perennial plant with a long, branched, rhizomatous rootstock. It forms basal rosettes of leaves at intervals along the rhizome and spreads to form a loose clump; the leafless flowering stems are around 12 - 30cm tall[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWidely spread throughout the subarctic and temperate zones of the northern hemisphere

HabitatConiferous woods, moors, damp rock ledges and dunes, on acid and calcareous soils in full sun or deep shade[ 5 Title Food for Free. Publication Author Mabey. R. Publisher Collins Year 1974 ISBN 0-00-219060-5 Description Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants. , 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ]. Subalpine deciduous broad-leaved forests; at elevations from 500 - 2,500 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].