Gaultheria ovatifolia A. Gray
western tea-berry (Oregon wintergreen; western teaberry)
Ericaceae (Crowberry family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Brian Klinkenberg     (Photo ID #21602)

Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Gaultheria ovatifolia
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Species Information

General:
Low, spreading shrub, to 5 cm tall; stems slender, to 20 cm long, very fine brownish-hairy.
Leaves:
Alternate, evergreen, leathery, egg-shaped to almost heart-shaped, (1.5) 2-4 cm long, (1) 1.5-3 cm wide, tips pointed; margins usually conspicuously sharp-toothed and thickened.
Flowers:
Solitary in leaf axils; flower stalks short, with bractlets; corollas white or pinkish, bell-shaped, 5-lobed, 3.5-5 mm long; calyces brown, about 2 mm long, reddish brown-hairy; anthers opening by terminal pores, without awns.
Fruits:
Berrylike, bright red, globe-shaped, 6-8 mm wide.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Gaultheria ovatifolia

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
 Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max
Elevation (metres)
 942 41 2100
Slope Gradient (%)
 30 0 150

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

 196 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		3 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
 C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
 582
Modal BEC Zone Class
 ICH

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

 BWBS(2), CWH(86), ESSF(46), ICH(332), IDF(10), MH(78), MS(9), SBS(3)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to wet coniferous forests, heath, and high-elevation bogs in the montane and subalpine zones; frequent in S BC south of 52degreeN; S to N CA and ID.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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