Teaberry

Wintergreen is ... green in winter!

At least the leaves are green; the fruit is red, edible and tasty! The fruits of wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), also called teaberry, were the original source of wintergreen flavoring (methyl salicylate). The leaves of this low growing groundcover also contain the flavorful oils, and are good to eat when young, but later become tough and leathery. Wintergreen is common in acidic woods throughout Pennsylvania, including the oak forests of WPC's Bear Run Nature Reserve.

Today's photos are courtesy of the Virginia Tech Forestry Department.

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