teaberry

The teaberry, also known as wintergreen or checkerberry, is an evergreen, aromatic plant belonging to the heath family, Ericaceae. Its scientific name is Gaultheria procumbens. This plant is characterized by short, erect branches with thick, shiny, toothed leaves. Its flowers are pale pink and urn-shaped, and they hang singly from the leaf axils. The bright red, berrylike fruits are actually enlarged, fleshy calyxes that surround small, many-seeded capsules. Teaberry is native to shady woods in the northern United States and southern Canada. The leaves can be used to make an infusion called mountain tea. The oil derived from its leaves, known as oil of wintergreen, contains methyl salicylate and is used for flavoring and in remedies for muscle pain.1