Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139748
Element CodePDPYR04010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyEricaceae
GenusPyrola
SynonymsPyrola rotundifoliaauct. p.p. non L.Pyrola rotundifolia var. americana(Sweet) Fern.
Other Common NamesAmerican wintergreen (EN) Pyrole d'Amérique (FR) Round-leaved Pyrola (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-09-23
Change Date1984-03-16
Edition Date2024-09-23
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsPyrola americana is a perennial subshrub of coniferous and deciduous forests of eastern North America, from Manitoba east to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and Maine south to North Carolina, west to Tennessee, and north to North and South Dakota in the United States. There are several thousand occurrences of this species, which are threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, alteration of hydrology, succession, recreational activities, invasive species, logging, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, a high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Pyrola americana is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsPyrola americana occurs in eastern North America, from Manitoba east to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and Maine south to North Carolina, west to Tennessee, and north to North and South Dakota in the United States (FNA 2009). Range extent was estimated to be over 4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are several thousand occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Pyrola americana is threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, alteration of hydrology, succession, recreational activities, invasive species, logging, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024), though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species.