Biology:Pyrola
Pyrola /ˈpɪrələ/[1] 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,[3] chlorophyllous or achlorophyllous,[4] up to 35–44 cm tall herbs or subshrubs with single, glabrous stems.[3] The long, branched, slender rootstock bears fine roots.[5]
Generative characteristics
The many-flowered,[5] racemose inflorescence with 1–4 scape bracts bears pedicellate, nodding, campanulate,[3] radially symmetric[4] or slightly zygomorphic flowers.[3] The pendulous, loculicidal capsule fruit bears approximately 1000 winged, spindle-shaped seeds.[4]
Cytology
The chromosome count is n = 23, 46.[5][3]
Taxonomy
It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[6][2] The lectotype is Pyrola rotundifolia L.[7]
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
- ↑ pyrola (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, September 2005, http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=pyrola (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 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
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 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
- ↑ Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Pyrola L. Tropicos. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40021377
- ↑ Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 723. ISBN 0-394-50432-1.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q157528 entry
 |  |
