Spotted Wintergreen

(Chimaphila maculata)

Status: Threatened (ESA & COSEWIC 2017)

Table of Contents:

Species Identification
Habitat and Biology
Threats/Reasons for Being at Risk
Conservation and Recovery Strategies
Why You Should Care
How You Can Help

Species Identification:

Spotted Wintergreen is a short evergreen perennial reaching a height of 25 cm. They have smooth, dark green, toothed leaves with a white stripe down the middle. Leaves are arranged in a circular pattern around the stem, and they have small, fragrant, pinkish-white, five-petaled flowers arranged in clusters of 1 to 5 at the end of a single stalk. Flowers bow down so the face of the flower is pointed towards the ground, and they have rounded fruit capsules that release small, non-winged seeds to be dispersed by the wind. Spotted Wintergreen looks very similar to Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata). However, while they are similar in appearance and found in similar habitat to Spotted Wintergreen, Pipsissewa does not have the characteristic white stripe along the centre of its leaves.

Habitat and Biology:

Spotted Wintergreen can be found throughout Eastern North America, Mexico, and Central America. In the United States, it can be found from central Michigan to Mississippi and Florida, and its western limits can be found in western Kentucky and Tennessee. In Canada, all 13 documented populations are found in southern Ontario. Only 6 of the original 13 documented Canadian populations are still believed to remain, with these populations being found exclusively in Norfolk County and the Niagara region. Spotted Wintergreen has been found historically in The Land Between, but it is now believed to be Extirpated from the area.

This species prefers Oak-dominated woodlands with a semi-open canopy, and sandy soils. Spotted Wintergreen is commonly found growing near Pipsissewa, Witch Hazel, Bracken Fern, Wild Sarsaparilla, and Round-leaved Dogwood. It flowers from late July to August for about three weeks, and is pollinated primarily by Bumblebees. Spotted Wintergreen reproduces with seeds that are dispersed by the wind and rain, or by producing a clone through an underground stem. The Spotted Wintergreen also needs to form a partnership with fungal species in soil in order to sustain seedling growth.

Map taken from Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/spotted-wintergreen-2017.html

Threats/ Reasons for being at Risk:

1. Recreational use of habitat: The largest Canadian population of Spotted Wintergreen in Turkey Point is in a public area that has multiple trails crossing its habitat. Significant damage to individual plants has been observed at the Turkey Point location, and damage to individual plants and their habitat removes individuals from the populations, lowering the genetic diversity of already small populations.

2. Developmental pressure: It is likely that many currently unknown populations exist on private land throughout the historic range of the Spotted Wintergreen. Developers and landowners unaware of the presence of the plant on their property may be unintentionally harming individual plants, or destroying suitable habitat that has the potential to support the plants.

3. Browsing by White-tailed Deer: Browsing by White-tailed Deer and Wild Turkey that have high populations in some areas with known Spotted Wintergreen could pose a threat by damaging or destroying individual plants through eating and trampling.

4. Habitat degradation: Habitat degradation as a result of human development poses a risk to countless species worldwide. Habitat that may have been considered suitable for the Spotted Wintergreen may be at risk of land conversion or alteration, rendering it no longer suitable to support the species. More research and monitoring is needed to determine the habitat needs of the Spotted Wintergreen in order to conserve what little habitat is left for rehabilitation.

Conservation and recovery strategies:

There is ongoing active management of Spotted Wintergreen habitat on public lands where the species is known to occur. The Ontario Government is also working on educating landowners on what Spotted Wintergreen looks like and where it lives. This ongoing effort has been increasing the knowledge base of where Spotted Wintergreen populations are located, and what habitat is required. The Spotted Wintergreen may also be benefiting from the actions outlined in the Tallgrass Communities of Southern Ontario Recovery Plan.

Why You Should Care:

Three of the six known populations of Spotted Wintergreen have been discovered within the last 10 to 15 years. These discoveries have been attributed to an increase in the amount of effort being made to find this species, and the level and quality of reporting
Populations of Spotted Wintergreen have been known to occur in The Land Between, specifically in the Muskoka area, and could be rediscovered there or in other locations across The Land Between if we continue to increase survey effort and public awareness

How can you help?

Learn how to identify Spotted Wintergreen and report any sightings to The Land Between or iNaturalist with a photo and GPS location of where it was found.
Spotted Wintergreen is primarily pollinated by Bumblebees (Bombus perplexus). Planting pollinator friendly gardens that have blooms throughout the spring and summer will help support the Spotted Wintergreen’s pollinators, and therefore the plant itself.
When walking, hiking, or ATVing, stay on marked trails and paths to avoid trampling vegetation and Species at Risk.
Volunteer with local organizations, nature clubs, or Provincial parks to participate in surveys or stewardship work focused on Species at Risk.