Montane. Woodlands. Summer.
Opal Lake Trail, July 10, 2010.

Pyrola picta grows from about four-to-eight inches tall.  The plant in the photograph is about six inches tall.  Flower color varies through shades of green/yellow. 

Pyrola picta is rare in Colorado and the plants shown in these photographs are, in fact, Archuleta County records.  The plant does occur more commonly in the other Four Corners states. 

When present, Pyrola picta is easily spotted in its normal dry Spruce forest habitat because of its striking leaves.

Pyrola picta was first collected for science by Archibald Menzies in 1792 in British Columbia, Canada.  It was named and described by James Smith in 1819.

The Latin "picta" means "painted or variegated".

Pyrola picta (Pyrola, Wintergreen)
Synonym: Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Pyrolaceae (Wintergreen Family)

Montane. Woodlands. Summer.
Opal Lake Trail, July 10, 2010.

Pyrolas are sorted out from one another first by the shape of their style, which may be straight or decidedly up-curved in the lower portion.  Pyrola picta's style is supposed to be quite curved, but the styles in this plant varied from nearly straight to up-curved.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Pyrola picta