[The Heath Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Wintergreens and Salals of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

The Genus Gaultheria

Flower of Western Wintergreen, Alpine Wintergreen, Matted Wintergreen, Alpine Spicy Wintergreen: Gaultheria humifusa (Synonyms: Gaultheria myrsinites, Vaccinium humifusum) - Berries and leaves of Western Wintergreen, Alpine Wintergreen, Matted Wintergreen, Alpine Spicy Wintergreen: Gaultheria humifusa (Synonyms: Gaultheria myrsinites, Vaccinium humifusum)

Close-up of a flowerleaves and fruit of alpine spicy wintergreen (Gaultheria humifusa).

Alpine Spicywintergreen, Alpine Wintergreen, Matted Wintergreen: Gaultheria humifusa (Synonyms: Gaultheria myrsinites, Vaccinium humifusum) - Prostrate, evergreen wildflower to 5 cm high. Leaves ovate or oval in shzpe with rounded to obtuse or acute tips. Flowers white and bell-shaped with glabrous calyx.

Oregon Wintergreen, Slender Wintergreen, Western Teaberry: Gaultheria ovatifolia - Prostrate, evergreen wildflower to 5 cm in height. Leaves oval, and very shiny green. Flowers white and bell-shaped, the calyx strongly covered with reddish, spreading hairs.

Salal: Gaultheria shallon - Shrubs 10-200 cm high. Leaves evergreen, alternate and leathery in texture. Flowers 5-15 in terminal to subterminal racemes. Flowers light pink, with petals fused to form a bell. Stems look sticky/hairy. Berries dark blue or black.

Paul Slichter E-mail