GALANTHUS 



GALAX 



623 



DD. Outer segments 9-12 lines long. 



4. Caucasicus, Baker (F. Eedoutei, Rupr.). Lvs. 

 finally 8-9 in. long, mostly 9 lines broad; outer segments 

 oblorig-spatulate, with a very narrow claw. Fls. later 

 than nivalis. Caucasus. Van Tubergen seems to cata- 

 logue var. maximus of this species, but consult No. 11. 



cc. Foliage very glaucous. 



D. Inner segments with lobes ratJter spreading 

 or crisped. 



5. Elwesii, Hook. GIANT SNOWDROP. Fig. 889. Bulb 

 larger and fls. more globose than in nivalis: outer seg- 

 ments oblong-spatulate, 9-15 lines long, 6-9 lines broad: 

 inner segments green in the lower half and also around 

 the sinus. Mts. of Asia 



Minor. B.M. 6166. R.H. 

 1880, p. 148. G. C. II. 

 11: 236. G.M. 34:154. 

 The inner segments are 

 narrowed suddenly just 

 below the apical lobes, 

 which are square and 

 much larger than in Fos- 

 teri. They also form a 

 narrower tube than in 

 any other species. Van 

 Tubergen advertises 

 vars. Cassaba (A. F. 



889. Galanthus nivalis and Elwesii. 

 The upper fls. are G. nivalis. The lowest one is O. Elwesii' 



The middle fls. are a variety of G. Elwesii. 

 3:471. Gng. 5:180 Gt. 48, p. 225. Gn. 55, p. 206),ochro- 

 spilus, unguiculatus (G. C. III. 17:361), and Erithrse, or 

 Whittalli (Gn. 57, p. 45), which has the largest fls. G. 

 robiisttis, Hort., seems never to have been* accounted 

 for by Baker. It may perhaps be G. Elwesii, var. 

 robustus which is a trade name. It is broad-lvd. and 

 glaucous. 

 DD Inner segments with lobes not spreading or crisped. 



6. Graecus, Orph. Very near Elwesii, but differing as 

 above and in the smaller fls. and narrower outer seg- 

 ments. April. Chios. 



BBB. Width of Ivs. greatest, 9-19 lines. 



c. Green color only near the sinus. 

 D.' Colored on both sides of the inner segments. 



7. latifolius, Rupr. Bulb 1 in. thick : Ivs. lorate, 

 bright green ; outer segments oblong-spatulate, 6-9 

 lines long ; inner segments green around the sinus, in- 

 side and out : anthers suddenly narrowed to a sharp 

 point, while in nivalis and Elwesii they are gradually 

 narrowed. Caucasus, where it fls. in May. G.C. II. 



237; 15:404; 1868:578. Gt. 48, p. 229. 



DD. Colored on only one side. 



. Ikariae, Baker. Resembles Foster! in foliage, and 

 tlwesii not in coloring but in the square, crisp lobes of 

 the inner segments, which tend to recurve. Outer seg- 



40 



ments nearly 1 in. long : stamens rather shorter than 

 the inner segments ; green color occupying half the 

 outside of the inner segments. Island of Nikaria (the 

 classical Ikaria). See GC III. 13:506. Gn. 52, p. 361 

 and 49, p. 330. Int. 1893. 



cc. Green color also on the lower half of the inner 

 segments. 



9. F6steri, Baker Resembles latifolius in foliage and 

 Elwesii in flower, but the apical lobes of the inner seg- 

 ments are short and erect, and smaller than in Elwesii. 

 Also the stamens are not more than half as long as the 

 inner segments, while in nivalis, Elwesii and latifolius 

 they are three-fourths as long. Asia Minor. Int. 1889. 

 G.M. 34:154. 



AA. Lvs. plaited, the edges permanently rolled back. 

 B. Green color only near the sinus. 



10. plicatus, M. Bieb. Bulb larger than in nivalis: 

 outer segments oblong from a very narrow base, very 

 convex on the back. 9-12 lines long, wide-spreading or 

 even reflexed: inner segments green in the upper half , 

 with a white edge. March, April. Crimea. This is 

 much confounded with G. Caucasicus. G.C. II. 11:236 

 B.R. 7:545. B.M. 2162. G.M. 34:155. 



11. grandifldrus, Baker (G. mdximus, Baker, not 

 Velatowsky). Possibly a hybrid between plicatus and 

 some form of nivalis, remarkable for its robust habit 

 and green color, extending more than half way down to- 

 wards the base of the inner segments. Int. 1893. See 

 G.C. III. 13:354, 656. See also G. Caucasicus, var. 

 maximus, No. 4. 



BB. Green color also on the lower halfo the inner 

 segments. 



12. Byzantinus, Baker. Intermediate between plica- 

 tus and Elwesii. "Lvs. 3 in. broad," which seems 

 hardly possible, glaucous on both sides, especially be- 

 neath ; margins distinctly and permanently recurved; 

 outer segments oblong, convex on back, 9 lines long, 4 

 lines broad, apical lobes somewhat reflexed and crisped: 

 stamens much shorter than inner segments. Int. 1893 

 See G.C. III. 13:226 w M ' 



GALAX (Greek, gala, milk ; alluding to the white- 

 ness of the flowers). Diapensiacece. Galax Ivs., with 

 their lovely shades of red or bronze, furnish some of 

 the most artistic decorative material for Christmas. 

 The diapensia family has only 6 genera, and all of them 

 are monotypic or nearly so. The family seems to be 

 nearly crowded out in the struggle for existence, and its 

 geographical distribution is interesting. Galax is dis- 

 tinguished from the other genera by the corolla 5- 

 parted, with entire segments : stamens connate with 

 the spatulate staminodes : anthers 1-celled : style 

 very short. The plant has long been cult, in hardy bor- 

 ders and rockeries for its beautifully tinted, persistent 

 Ivs. and its slender spikes of fls. borne in July. The 

 plant grows about 6-9 in. high, and is native to the moun- 

 tains of Virginia to Georgia. J. B. Keller recommends 

 a northern aspect in the lower part of the rockery, 

 where the plants can have shade and moisture. Prop, 

 by division. Galax is usually called "Coltsfoot." 



aphylla, Linn. GALAX. Rhizome perennial : Ivs. all 

 from the root, heart- or kidney-shaped, crenate-dentate, 

 often tinged with red or bronze, with radiating nerves 

 and slender petiole, sheathing at the base. B.M. 754. 

 G.F. 5:605. "Aphylla" means "leafless," referring to 

 the scape. Wi M> 



The use of Galax leaves for decorative purposes in a 

 commercial way dates back only to 1890, when they 

 were introduced to the northern florist trade by the 

 writer, who had experimented with them for several 

 years before that date, sending to hospitals and indi- 

 viduals. The reports received fully justified the intro- 

 ducer in advertising the leaf widely as a florist's deco- 

 rative material for making wreaths, crosses, and in 

 fact all designs for which ivy leaves up to that time 

 had been employed almost exclusively. To-day Galax 

 leaves have to a great extent taken the place of ivy 

 leaves, beinsr less expensive, easier handled and kept, 

 and furnishing long, wiry stems. The 'jrilliant bronze 



