Montane. Woodlands. Summer.
Bear Creek Trail, June 29, 2010.

Although this plant is not listed as uncommon in the western San Juan Mountains and other Four Corners mountainous areas, it is a plant I have rarely seen in the region.  When present, it is easily spotted in its normal dry Spruce forest habitat because of its bright green leaves and red stem.

The bright green leaves showing in the photograph are those of a new Pyrola chlorantha plant; the dull green leaves at the base of the ruler are last year's growth and are part of the plant whose flowers we see at the top of the photograph.

Pyrola chlorantha is circumboreal and was named and described by  Olaf Swartz in 1810 from a specimen collected in Sweden.

"Chlorantha" means "green flowered". 

Montane. Woodlands. Summer.
Opal Lake Trail, July 10, 2010.

Pyrolas are sorted out from one another first by the shape of their style, which may be straight or decidedly up-curved in the lower portion.  Pyrola chlorantha's style is supposed to be quite curved, but, as you can see in this and the following two photographs, the style can vary from nearly straight to up-curved. Perhaps this variation is due to hybridization of Pyrola chlorantha and Pyrola minor.

Montane. Woodlands. Summer.
Bear Creek Trail, June 29, 2010.

Montane. Woodlands. Summer.
Bear Creek Trail, June 29, 2010.

Montane. Woodlands. Summer.
Bear Creek Trail, June 29, 2010.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Pyrola chlorantha