Pipsissewa or Striped Wintergreen (Beautiful, tea, tonic, medicine)

Type: Interesting

Description:
An evergreen herbaceous plant some times classed as a shrub, Pipsissewa or Striped Wintergreen, spotted wintergreen, prince's pine was use for centuries by indigenous peoples in teas, heath tonics and medicine. Pipsissewa was a name used by the Cree peoples and the word means to 'break apart'. This was in reference in its medicinal use to 'break apart' kidney and gall stones. Wintergreen has a mild flavor and used to make pleasant teas and was use to make treats and candies as well. It seems easist to find in winter when all the other green ground covers have browned out. The scientific name is Chimaphila maculata. From the greek, Chima means winter, and philia means loving so this is a winter loving plant! It takes advantage of the lack of leaf cover in winter to do photosynthesis practically year round. Its beautiful varigated leaves makes it a unique garden ground cover in shady dry well drained soils and is sold comercially for this purpose. Blooming in mid summer, this native plants upside down flowers are pollinated by bumblee bees. Watch my channel to learn more about plants and animals you find outside your door! This is all about natural history, biology education and environmental education, learning in the outdoors. Go outside and see if you can find this and other amazing organisms I feature on my channel. See what YOU can find!

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Video length: 06:21