Moneses uniflora

Illustrator: Barbara Alongi

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants arising from horizontal roots, 0.3–3 dm. Leaves: petiole 5–20(–30) mm, channeled adaxially, glabrous; blade dull and light green abaxially, shiny and green adaxially, 6–22 × 5–20 mm, base rounded to obtuse, apex obtuse to rounded. Inflorescences: peduncle 3–15 cm; peduncular bracts absent or 1(–2), oblanceolate to elliptic or orbiculate, (2.5–)4–4.5 × (2–)2.7–3.4 mm, membranous, margins entire or obscurely erose-denticulate. Flowers: calyx lobes spreading or reflexed in fruit, green or green with margins whitish green, 2–2.5 × 1.5–2 mm, margins erose-denticulate, apex rounded to obtuse; petals ovate to broadly ovate, 8–12 × 4–8 mm, margins minutely denticulate; stamens 4–8 mm; filament base 0.4–0.8 mm wide; anthers 2.2–2.5 mm, thecae whitish yellow to tan or light brown, tubules golden brown to brown, 0.4–0.8 mm, abruptly narrowed from thecae, lateral walls not touching, pores 0.2–0.4 × 0.2–0.4 mm; ovary smooth; style 2–5 mm; stigma 1.4–3.5 mm wide, lobes erect. Capsules subglobose, 4–8 × 5–9 mm. 2n = 22, 24, 26, 32.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Moist forests, bogs
Elevation: 10-3500 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

St. Pierre and Miquelon, Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Idaho, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., Nev., N.H., N.Mex., N.Y., Ohio, Oreg., R.I., S.Dak., Utah, Vt., Wash., Wis., Wyo., Eurasia.

Discussion

Most chromosome counts are 2n = 26; there are reports of 2n = 22, 24, and 32 (Á. Löve and D. Löve 1975b). The veracity of the latter reports has not been confirmed. Moneses uniflora has been used by different Native American tribes as a dermatological aid, cold remedy, throat aid, and analgesic (D. E. Moerman 1998).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.