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The Pyrolaceae is a small family of plants, closely related to the heather family Ericaceae, and included in it by some botanists. The family differs mainly in their herbaceous growth form, not being woody plants like the Ericaceae. The family includes four genera, native to cool temperate and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The common name wintergreen (shared by several other plants) derives from their evergreen leaves.
Most of the species produce oil of wintergreen in their leaves, giving them a very characteristic scent.
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