Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
gaul·the·ria Pronunciation:
gol-'thir-E-& Function:
noun 1 capitalized : a genus of evergreen shrubs of theheath family (Ericaceae) that have opposite leaves and axillary white flowers, produce small often aromatic fruits resembling berries, and include the wintergreen (
G. procumbens) which is asource of methyl salicylate
2 : a plant of the genus
Gaultheria Gaultier /gO-tyA/,
Jean François (1708–1756), Canadianphysician and botanist. Gaultier made botanical studies of the Quebec region with the Swedish botanist Peter Kalm (1716–1779). Kalm was an associate of Linnaeus, who named the genus
Gaultheria in honor of Gaultier in 1753.
