The 5-pointed petals of the flower are a shallow shell-shape; their margins curl under somewhat, their texture is thin and waxen, and their surface is smooth to the touch; color, white, inclined to ivory. The 10 white stamens have curious 2-horned, dull-yellow tips,—they lie back, with a quick curve, in the hollows of the petals; the bright green pistil bends, or curves downward; the flat 5-parted calyx is very small. The single flower is set on the crook-like tip of the pale-green flower-stem, which bears one or two tiny pale bracts.
This boldly curved crook of the flower-stem is completely straightened when the petals fall,—the seed-box is held upright. Like most of its tribe this is a gregarious little plant, and grows in plantations.
ONE-FLOWERED PYROLA: Moneses grandiflora.
| Prince’s Pine. | Chimaphila umbellata. |
| Pipsissewa. |
Found in dry woods during July.
The simple leafy stalk varies from 4 to 10 inches in height, and is round, tough-fibred, and woody at the base. Color, green.
The oblong leaf is widest toward the tip, and tapering toward the base; the margin is notched, the texture is fine, firm, and thick, with a smooth and shining surface. The color is dark green, lighter beneath; it is evergreen. The leaves, on very short stems, grow in whorls of 5 (generally speaking), about the stalk.
The flower has 5 rounded, concave, white petals, with a rose colored ring marked in its center; the 10 pinkish stamens are set around the large, conical, green pistil, whose summit is flat and sticky; the small 5-parted calyx is green. Several flowers, on short curving stems, grow in a cluster, from the top of the flower-stem.
Pipsissewa’s seed-cases are interesting; they are round and brown, and, borne upright on the end of the slender stems, are truly decorative in aspect, and with the shining green leaves remain unchanged by winter’s cold. In Maine the plant is called “Love-in-winter.”