Galax
322499
218255297
2008-06-09T21:04:42Z
Rickjpelleg
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/* Categories */ Added Monotypic plant genera
{{dablink|For the town, see [[Galax, Virginia]].}}
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Galax''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Diapensiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Galax''''' [[John Sims|Sims]]
| species = '''''G. urceolata'''''
| binomial = ''Galax urceolata''
| binomial_authority = ([[Jean Louis Marie Poiret|Poir.]]) [[Richard Kenneth Brummitt|Brummit]]
}}
'''''Galax''''' ('''Wandplant''', '''Wandflower''', or '''Beetleweed''') is a genus in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Diapensiaceae]], containing a single species, '''''Galax urceolata''''' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''G. rotundifolia'', ''G. aphylla''). It is native to the southeastern [[United States]] from [[Massachusetts]] and [[New York]] south to northern [[Alabama]], growing mainly in the [[Appalachian Mountains]] at altitudes of up to 1,500 m, where it grows in shaded places in [[forest]]s.
It is an [[evergreen]] [[herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] growing to 30-45 cm (rarely 75 cm) tall, with a rosette of leathery [[leaf|leaves]] which grow only at the base of the plant, and turn reddish-brown during [[winter]]. The leaves are a rounded [[cardioid]] (heart) shape, 2.5-7.5 cm diameter, rarely up to 15 cm, with a [[serrate]]d margin with rounded "teeth". The [[flower]]s are produced in late [[spring (season)|spring]] to early [[summer]], white in color and on a single spike-like raceme 15-25 cm long on top of a 20-50 cm tall stem. Each individual flower has five [[petal]]s, and is up to 4 mm or 0.15 inches in [[diameter]]. The [[fruit]] is a small [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] containing numerous [[seed]]s.
The leaves are often harvested for the [[florist]]ry industry; concern has been expressed over excessive exploitation, and collection is now restircted in many areas. It has also been used in [[herbalism]] to treat cuts and kidney ailments. It is occasionally grown as an [[ornamental plant]] in gardens.
The [[independent city]] of [[Galax, Virginia]] is named after this plant.
==External links==
*[http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=plant_profile.cgi&symbol=GAUR2 USDA Plant Profile: ''Galax urceolata'']
*[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Galax+urceolata Plants for a Future: ''Galax urceolata'']
*[http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/21011 ''Galax (Galax urceolata): an annotated bibliography''] USDA Southern Research Station, 2005.
[[Category:Ericales]]
[[Category:Monotypic plant genera]]
{{Ericales-stub}}