Other common names:
Checkerberry, Eastern Teaberry, Teaberry French names:
Gaulthérie couchée Family: Heath Family (Ericaceae) Distinctive features: Sub-Shrub; Low plant, tough leaves, wintergreen smell. Similar species: • Fringed Polygala (Polygaloides paucifolia) - no wintergreen smell. See the Ontario Wildflowers website, Fringed Polygala. Flowers: Spring, Summer; White; 5 parts (petals); White, hanging down under the leaves. Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Toothed; Alternate, simple. Crowded near the top of the plant. Roundish/oblong, tough, evergreen. Aromatic. Height:
10-15 cm (4-6 in) Fruit/Seeds:
Red berries hanging down under the leaves, stay on the plant through the winter (if no one eats them!). Habitat: Forests; Open forests. Edible:
Berries are edible. Leaves may be chewed for the wintergreen taste.
Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 212 Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 38 ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 253 Shrubs of Ontario: 377 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Common.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: procumbens: with trailing prostrate stems For more information visit: Ontario Wildflowers
, Ontario Trees and Shrubs Photographs:
88 photographs available, of which 5 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
A Wintergreen plant in early spring. The leaves are tough but edible if chewed well. Actually, you should just chew them for flavour, and then spit out the remnants.
Flowers. They hang down below the leaves.
The red berries. They are edible, and have a strong wintergreen flavour.
Closer view of a berry.
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