Pyrola is a genus of plants in the family Ericaceae native to the region spanning from the subarctic and temperate northern hemisphere to Guatemala and Sumatra.
Description Vegetative characteristics
Pyrola are erect, chlorophyllous or achlorophyllous,Pyrola in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2026, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=127777 up to tall herbs or subshrubs with single, glabrous stems. The long, branched, slender rootstock bears fine roots.Pyrola in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2026, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=127777 Generative characteristics
The many-flowered, racemose inflorescence with 1–4 scape bracts bears pedicellate, nodding, campanulate, radially symmetric or slightly zygomorphic flowers. The pendulous, loculicidal capsule fruit bears approximately 1000 winged, spindle-shaped seeds. Cytology The chromosome count is n = 23, 46.Luteyn, J. L., & Pedraza-Peñalosa, P. (n.d.). PYROLA. New York Botanical Garden. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/pyrola.html
Taxonomy It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.Linné, Carl von, & Salvius, Lars. (1753). Caroli Linnaei ... Species plantarum :exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas... (Vol. 1, p. 396). Impensis Laurentii Salvii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358415 The lectotype is Pyrola rotundifolia Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Pyrola L. Tropicos. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40021377 Species It has 42 accepted species:Pyrola L. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved March 13, 2026, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000769-2
Pyrola alboreticulata Pyrola alpina Pyrola americana Pyrola angustifolia Pyrola aphylla Pyrola asarifolia Pyrola atropurpurea Pyrola calliantha Pyrola carpatica Pyrola chlorantha Pyrola chouana Pyrola corbierei Pyrola crypta Pyrola dahurica Pyrola decorata Pyrola dentata Pyrola elegantula Pyrola elliptica Pyrola faurieana Pyrola forrestiana Pyrola × graebneriana Pyrola grandiflora Pyrola japonica Pyrola karakoramica Pyrola macrocalyx Pyrola markonica Pyrola mattfeldiana Pyrola media Pyrola minor Pyrola morrisonensis Pyrola nephrophylla Pyrola norvegica Pyrola picta Pyrola renifolia Pyrola rotundifolia Pyrola rugosa Pyrola shanxiensis Pyrola sororia Pyrola subaphylla Pyrola sumatrana Pyrola szechuanica Pyrola tschanbaischanica Pyrola xinjiangensis
Pharmacology Pyrola elliptica, commonly known as "shinleaf", contains a drug related to aspirin, and the leaves have been used to treat bruises. Its common name derives from its use in shin casting.
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