Wintergreen

a low plant of the heath family, producing aromatic red berries. The name comes from the leaves, which are evergreen. The plant and its bright fruit give a cheery aspect to the northern woods, but they are so low that they are early covered with snow. The flower hangs bell-fashion. Thoreau called it a "very pretty chandelier of a flower fit to adorn the forest floor." Wintergreen is a well known flavor obtained from the berries. Other names are box-, checker-, and partridge-berry. The latter name, in particular, is shared by the handsome trailing vine with red berries known to the botanist as Mitchella.

Wintergreen is a well known flavoring extract much used in candies and in medicine. The essence was first obtained from the leaves and berries of the wintergreen. Commercial wintergreen extract is now distilled chiefly from the bark of the tree known in New England and Canada as sweet birch. The oil has the fragrance and the composition of genuine wintergreen.