Pipsissewa is a small, semi-woody evergreen plant of dry, acidic forests across northern North America, producing nodding clusters of fragrant, waxy, pale-pink flowers in summer. Growing just 4–12 inches tall, it bears glossy, toothed, evergreen leaves that were historically used to brew a tea and flavor root beer and other beverages. Pipsissewa is mycoheterotrophic — it relies partly on soil fungi for nutrients rather than making all its own food through photosynthesis.
Habitat
Found in dry, acidic coniferous and mixed forests across northern North America.
Diet
Flowers pollinated by native bees; fruits consumed by grouse and other ground-foraging birds.
How common
Uncommon
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