wintergreen

Any of a group of plants belonging to the heath family, especially the species G. procumbens of northeastern North America, which creeps underground and sends up tiny shoots. Oil of wintergreen, used in treating rheumatism, is extracted from its leaves. Wintergreen is also the name for various plants belonging to the wintergreen family Pyrolaceae, including the green pipsissewa C. maculata of northern North America, Europe, and Asia. (Genus Gaultheria, family Ericaceae; also genera Pyrola, Chimaphila, Orthilia, and Moneses, family Pyrolaceae.)