Pyrola alpina

Red-flowered Pyrolaor Pyrola alpina (Pyrola incarnata) is an evergreen perennial in the genus Pyrola of the Ericaceae family that blooms in clusters.
It grows wild in sunny mountain forests and along forest edges in subalpine and highland regions of Honshu, forming colonies via rhizomes.
It grows to a height of 15–40 cm, and its flower stalks grow straight upward. It grows taller than the common Pyrola.
The basal leaves are round to oval, thick, and glossy; the upper surface is green, while the underside is purple.
In early summer, it produces racemes bearing 7–15 small flowers ranging in color from pale to deep peach, all facing downward.
Its Japanese name derives from its flower color and its use as a medicinal herb.

Comparison of Red-flowered Ichiyakuso and Ichiyakuso

Pyrola
Flower color: white; Leaf color: green; Habitat: low mountains to mountainous regions; Flowering season: June–July; 5–10 flowers per stem.

Common Name: Pyrola alpina
Scientific Name: Pyrola incarnata
Japanese name: Akabana Ichiyakuso
syn.: Pyrola asarifolia var. incarnata
Taxonomic Classification: Kingdom Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Order Ericales, Family Ericaceae, Genus Pyrola, Species Pyrola incarnata
Life Form: Evergreen perennial; grows in clumps via rhizomes; flower stalks grow straight upward
Habitat and Distribution: Subalpine and plateau regions of Honshu; Environment: Bright mountain forests and forest edges
Plant Height: 15–40 cm (Pyrola incarnata typically 15–30 cm)
Leaf Texture: Thick and glossy; Leaf Arrangement: Basal leaves; Leaf color: green (upper surface) + purple (lower surface); Leaf shape: round to elliptical;
Inflorescence type: raceme; Flower color: pale to deep pink; Flowering season: early summer; Flower arrangement: 7–15 flowers per stem, facing downward; Pistil (style): protrudes from the flower, long and curved like an elephant’s trunk.
Uses: Medicinal herb.