E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Chimaphila umbellata subsp. occidentalis (L.) W.P.C. Barton
prince's pine (pipsissewa)
Ericaceae (Crowberry family)
(Previously in Pyrolaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Ian Cumming  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #6024)

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Distribution of Chimaphila umbellata subsp. occidentalis
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial, slightly woody herb from a rhizome; stems stout, erect or nearly so, often branched, 10-30 cm tall.
Leaves:
Generally all stem leaves, usually 3-5 per whorl, leathery, evergreen, oblanceolate, 2-7 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm wide, sharply toothed, tips abruptly pointed, bases tapered; stalks 3-8 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 3 to 10 nodding flowers in terminal umbel-like cluster, flower stem minutely- and glandular-hairy; flower stalks 4-10 cm long, glandular-hairy; bracts narrowly egg-shaped, deciduous; petals 5, distinct, 4-7 mm long, pinkish to somewhat rose, waxy; sepals 5, distinct, 1-2 mm long, margins jagged-toothed; ovaries superior; styles in depressed centre of ovary; stamens 10, anthers with terminal pores on tubes, the filament bases widened and swollen, only hairy on margins.
Fruits:
Capsules, nearly globe-shaped, 5-7 mm wide.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Mesic to dry forests in the montane zone; common in S BC, infrequent northward; N to SE AK, E to C AB and SK, scattered to James Bay, ON, and S to CA, NM, CO.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Chimaphila occidentalis
Chimaphila umbellata var. occidentalis (Rydb.) Blake

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References