Shinleaf

 
I promised you pictures of a known Pyrola, and I will deliver. Actually, today and tomorrow. I have pictures of two different ones, and I think that almost makes it certain that the one from yesterday is a third species.

Here is the most common Pyrola, shinleaf, in bud. These pictures were from the tip of the Lower Peninsula a couple of years ago.

Take a look at the leaves. They are elliptical and fade into the stem. The name of this plant is Pyrola elliptica.

Now for the good part. Here are the flowers.

I love how they look like little bells with a clapper. Take a closer look.

The clapper is really the pistil- the female part of the flower. The pollen has to get on the tip of the pistil and then it grows a pollen tube to carry the sperm to the egg in the ovule to create seeds. Plants are sexy and strange!

	See Pyrola- Which One?
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