CHICKWEED WINTERGREEN

Trientalis europaea

Myrsine Family [Myrsinaceae]

21st June 2009, North East Scotland.

Photo: © Phil And Ann Farrer

Leaves variable in size and shape, from obovate for the larger ones to oblanceolate ovate for the smaller ones, acute or obtuse at the tip, at random. With 5 to 6 leaves in a whorl.

8th July 2015, Glencoe, Scotland

Photo: © Susan McGilveray

Up to 20cm tall. Flowers six-petalled (the number of petals can vary between 5 to 9), white to pale-pink. The single whorl of leaves is suspended about half way up the stem reminiscent of Herb-Paris but that has just four leaves. There may also be a few much-smaller leaves up the stem. The stem below the leaf has small reddish papillae (pimples)

21st June 2009, North East Scotland.

Photo: © Phil And Ann Farrer

A short plant to 20cm with the larger and broader shiny lime-green leaves in a single whorl halfway up the stem and the odd much smaller leaf elsewhere. The flowers are on very long stalks in a small loose unbel.

8th July 2015, Glencoe, Scotland

One or two white flowers 6 to 10mm across on erect 2cm to 7cm long pedicel(s) (flower stems). Has six stamens bearing yellow pollen.

Some similarities to : Herb-Paris but that has a whorl of four leaves and green flowers.

Slight resemblance to : Wood Anemone but that is smaller still.

Easily mistaken for : Starflower (Trientalis borealis) but that has larger leaves (up to 8cm and sometimes 10cm) long, the leaves are ovate to elliptic and where there may be small leaves up the stem on Chickweed-wintergreem Starflower has but scale-like leaves. Starflower is an alien growing only in West Kent and South Hants.

No relation to : Wintergreens such as Common Wintergreen, Round-Leaved Wintergreen, Serrated Wintergreen, Intermediate Wintergreen, One-Flowered Wintergreen, [plants with similar names but belonging to the Wintergreen Family (Pyrolaceae)] nor to the Chickweeds such as Upright Chickweed, Greater Chickweed, Lesser Chickweed, Common Chickweed which belong to the Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae).

Chickweed Wintergreen is neither a Chickweed nor a Wintergreen. Liking acidic soils it grows on heaths and moors and in coniferous woods on humus. It does not now occur south of Manchester.

Trientalis

europaea

⇐ Global Aspect ⇒

Myrsinaceae

Distribution
family8Myrsine family8Myrsinaceae
BSBI maps

Trientalis
(Chickweed Wintergreens)