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Galax urceolata

Common name:	Beetleweed	Family:	Diapensiaceae
Author:	(Poir.)Brummitt.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:	Galax aphylla (non L.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	South-eastern N. America.
Habitat:	Moist open woodland, particularly in montane areas, to altitudes of 1500 metres[200].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	G. aphylla auct. non[P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Beetleweed [B,P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	urceolata = pitcher shaped
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Diapensiales. Diapensia family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen perennial growing to 0.2m by 0.3m . It is hardy to zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid soils and can grow in very acid soil. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade, Ground Cover.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Kidney Vulnerary.

The plant is used for healing all kinds of wounds and cuts[207].
An infusion of the root is used to treat kidney problems[257].

Other Uses

Ground cover.

An attractive ground cover, the leaves turn bronze-red in winter[200]. Plants should be spaced about 25cm apart each way[208].

Cultivation details

Requires a moist humus-rich lime-free soil with part day shade[200]. Succeeds in full shade[208]. Plants can succeed in the dry shade of trees[233].
Succeeds in the woodland garden, large rock gardens or as an edging for shady paths[200]. Plants like an annual mulch of pine needles or other acid organic matter each spring[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in a shaded cold frame[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady position in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division with care in early spring[200].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Diapensiaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[207] Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.

[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Galax+urceolata
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