A genus of small evergreen plants also called pipsissewa, found in forests and known for medicinal uses.
From Greek 'cheimon' (winter) and 'philo' (love), literally 'winter-loving,' because these plants remain green through cold seasons. Botanists named it in the 18th century based on its hardy nature.
Chimaphila's common name 'pipsissewa' comes from Cree and Ojibwe languages and means 'it breaks into small pieces'—referring to how it was traditionally used to treat kidney stones! Native Americans used it for centuries before European herbalists discovered its benefits.
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