What plant is that?
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Photo credit: © Francis R. Underwood 2014
This month’s mystery plant is a small perennial with evergreen leaves and small white flowers. The leaves are alternate, leathery, glossy and slightly toothed along the margins. The leaves have the odor of wintergreen when crushed. The flowers are regular, bell-shaped, five-parted and hang under the leaves. The fruit is red berries. This plant is 3-6 “ tall and it is fairly common in acid soil in the woods of Rhode Island. It blooms from July to September.
It’s. . .
Botanical Name: |
Gaultheria procumbens |
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|---|---|---|
Common Name: |
Checkerberry, Wintergreen, Teaberry | |
Family: |
Ericaceae (Heath Family) | |
Habitat: |
Acid soil in woods |