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| WINTERGREEN GROUNDCOVER |
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| WINTERGREEN LEAVES
Thursday, 9:00 AM. 46 degrees F, wind N, calm at present. It is a foggy, misty morning, very quiet, without a bird sound, nor even the bark of a neighborhood dog disturbing the quiet; all nature seems damped down. The humidity is 97%, and the barometer has dropped to 29.93".
Now, before either leaves or snow completely cover the ground, is a good time to see aromatic wintergreen on the mixed deciduous/coniferous forest floor in the Northland, where the creeping, evergreen plants can form large patches. Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens, in the heath family, bears small white flowers in the spring, followed by red, berry-like fruits that are no longer present at this time. There is another very similar wintergreen species, G. hispidula that grows in coniferous woods and bogs. There are several other creeping evergreen species, including partridge berry (Mitchella repens) but wintergreen is unmistakable due to its characteristic wintergreen aroma when the leaves are crushed.
The leaves have long been used as a tea by both Indians and whites, and tea-berry is one of its common names. Decoctions and poultices of the leaves have been likewise been used as a cold remedy and anti-arthrytic by both cultures, as wintergreen has many of the same properties as aspirin. Wintergreen salve is still available commercially. Internal use of wintergreen, other than as a dilute tea, may not be safe, however.
Come to think of it, a hot cup of wintergreen tea might be just the thing for my creaky joints on this damp fall morning! |
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