Editing Galax

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{about|the Diapensiaceae genus|the city|Galax, Virginia|other uses}}
{{speciesbox
|image = Galax urceolata.jpg
|image_caption =
|genus = Galax
|parent_authority = [[John Sims (taxonomist)|Sims]]
|species = urceolata
|authority = ([[Jean Louis Marie Poiret|Poir.]]) [[Richard Kenneth Brummitt|Brummit]]
}}

'''''Galax''''', the '''wandplant''', '''wandflower''', or '''beetleweed''', is a genus in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Diapensiaceae]], containing a [[Monotypic taxon|single species]], '''''Galax urceolata''''' ([[synonym (taxonomy)|syn.]] ''G. rotundifolia'', ''G. aphylla''). It is native to the southeastern [[United States]] from [[Massachusetts]] and [[New York (state)|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. ''Galax urceolata'' can occur at multiple [[ploidy]] levels, an individual may be a diploid (2x), triploid (3x), or autotetraploid (4x) ([[autopolyploid]]).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stebbins|first=G. Ledyard|title=Variation and Evolution in Plants|date=1950-12-31|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-89916-1|location=New York Chichester, West Sussex|doi=10.7312/steb94536}}</ref> The [[cytotype]]s are neither morphologically nor geographically distinct, though there are slight climatic differences between the diploid and autotetraploid types.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gaynor|first1=Michelle L.|last2=Marchant|first2=D. Blaine|last3=Soltis|first3=Douglas E.|last4=Soltis|first4=Pamela S.|date=October 2018|title=Climatic niche comparison among ploidal levels in the classic autopolyploid system, Galax urceolata|journal=American Journal of Botany|language=en|volume=105|issue=10|pages=1631–1642|doi=10.1002/ajb2.1161|pmid=30239980 |s2cid=52310009 |issn=0002-9122|doi-access=free}}</ref> Outcrossing is likely to occur among cytotypes as well.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Barringer|first1=Brian C.|last2=Galloway|first2=Laura F.|date=April 2017|title=The Reproductive Ecology of Diploid and Tetraploid Galax urceolata|url=https://bioone.org/journals/the-american-midland-naturalist/volume-177/issue-2/0003-0031-177.2.299/The-Reproductive-Ecology-of-Diploid-and-Tetraploid-Galax-urceolata/10.1674/0003-0031-177.2.299.full|journal=The American Midland Naturalist|volume=177|issue=2|pages=299–308|doi=10.1674/0003-0031-177.2.299|s2cid=89816057 |issn=0003-0031}}</ref>

== Description ==
It is an [[evergreen]] [[herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] growing to 30–45&nbsp;cm (rarely 75&nbsp;cm) tall, with a rosette of leathery [[leaf|leaves]], which turn brown during winter. The leaves are a rounded [[cardioid]] (heart) shape, 2.5–7.5&nbsp;cm diameter, rarely up to 15&nbsp;cm, with a [[serrate]]d margin with rounded "teeth". The [[flower]]s are produced in late spring to early summer, white in color and on a single [[spike (botany)|spike]]-like raceme 15–25&nbsp;cm long on top of a 20–50&nbsp;cm tall stem. Each individual flower has five [[petal]]s, and is up to {{cvt|4|mm|in|frac=32}} in [[diameter]]. The [[fruit]] is a small [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] containing numerous [[seed]]s.

== Taxonomy ==
The genus name ''Galax'' comes from the Greek word "gala" which means "milk",<ref>{{Cite book|last=Predny|first=Mary Lorraine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GQPxAAAAMAAJ&q=+greek&pg=PP9|title=Galax (Galax Urceolata): An Annotated Bibliography|date=2005|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station ; [Washington, D.C.?]|language=en}}</ref> describing ''Galax''<nowiki/>'s white flowers.

Around 1730, Galax was collected by [[John Clayton (botanist)|John Clayton]], due to his friendship with [[Mark Catesby]], an English naturalist who had just arrived in Virginia. Based on Catesby's recommendation, Clayton ended up sending his specimens to [[Jan Frederik Gronovius]], a Dutch botanist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Brummitt|first=R. K.|title=Nomenclatural and Historical Considerations concerning the Genus Galax |date=May 1972|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1218202|journal=Taxon|volume=21|issue=2–3|pages=303–317|doi=10.2307/1218202|jstor=1218202|bibcode=1972Taxon..21..303B |issn=0040-0262}}</ref> In 1739, Gronovius published ''The Flora of Virginia'', where  "Anonymos or Belvedere" is the plant long known as ''Galax aphylla''. Clayton provided Gronovius with four samples, all which were destroyed in a series of unfortunate events.<ref name=":0" />

Many years later, [[John Mitchell (geographer)|John Mitchell]] assumed he had collected ''Galax aphylla'' and took a ship to bring the specimen to [[Carl Linnaeus]]; however, his boat was attacked by pirates, who took all the specimens as part of their [[plunder]]. Prior to the voyage, he had sent descriptions of all the specimens to colleagues in Europe. When he arrived there, he was able to procure one of his descriptions for Linnaeus. Despite Linnaeus never seeing this specimen of “''Galax''”, he agreed with Mitchell's description; however, the specimen described was, in fact, "''[[Nemophila|Nymophila]]''", thus invalidating the name ''Galax aphylla''  with respect to the ''[[International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants|International Code of Nomenclature of Plants.]]''

Between March 1803 and September 1804, ''Galax'' was rediscovered and renamed five times. Any time the new name referred to Mitchell's description, it was invalidated. The name that is considered valid, since it pre-dates all other names and follows the rules of nomenclature, was ''Pyrola urceolata'' Poir., named by [[Jean Louis Marie Poiret]]. Despite the validity of this name, ''Pyrola'' never caught on.<ref name=":0" /> Around this time ''Galax urceolata'' was cultivated in Europe; many descriptions came from the cultivated line (presumably sent by John Clayton), and the plant referred to as "Galax" was gaining popularity. In 1972, [[Brummitt]] argued that the genus name should remain ''Galax'', but the specific epithet should be ''urceolata''; therefore, he renamed it ''Galax urceolata'' (Poir.) Brummitt.<ref name=":0" /> However, many herbaria still label this specimen with its original invalid name, ''Galax aphylla.''

The [https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/p/item/p00714232?listIndex=2&listCount=59 type specimen] was collected by [[André Michaux]], who had his horses [[horse thievery|stolen]] on the journey to collect Galax with John Clayton. Since the prior specimens had been destroyed and the name invalidated, this new specimen would be considered the holotype.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Names assigned between March 1803 and September 1804<ref name=":0" />
!Name
!Authority
!Date
!Description
|-
|''Erythrorhiza rotundifolia''
|[[André Michaux]]
|March 1803
|Noted as a synonym of ''Galax aphylla'' Linn. therefore invalidated.
|-
|''Pyrola urceolata''
|[[Jean Louis Marie Poiret]]
|January 1804
|Based on a plant in cultivation in France, in the garden of M. Lemonier.
|-
|''Blandfordia cordata''
|[[Henry Cranke Andrews|Henry C. Andrews]]
|February 1804
|''Blandfordia'' was used for a genus in Liliaceae in 12/1804, and the genus name is still conserved. This name is therefore invalidated. 
|-
|''Galax aphylla''
|[[John Sims (taxonomist)|John Sims]]
|June 1804
|Stated synonymy with ''Erythrorhiza rotundifolia'' of Michaux, ''Blandfordia cordata'' of Andrews, ''Belvedere'' of Clayton & Gronovius, ''Viticella'' of Mitchell, and ''Pyrola'' from Poiret. - invalidated
|-
|''Solenandria cordifolia''
|[[Étienne Pierre Ventenat|E. P. Ventenat]]
|September 1804
|Pointed out that ''Belvedere'' of Clayton & Gronovius and ''Viticella'' of Mitchell were not the same plant. 
|}
== Uses ==
The leaves are often harvested for the [[florist]]ry industry; concern has been expressed over excessive exploitation, and collection is now restricted 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]], as well as [[Galax, North Carolina]] are named after this plant.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=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.
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/nikyhughes/317569010/sizes/l/ photo of ''Galax urceolata'' at flickr.com]

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q14565066|from2=Q166773}}

[[Category:Diapensiaceae]]
[[Category:Monotypic Ericales genera]]
[[Category:Flora of the Southeastern United States]]
[[Category:Flora of the Appalachian Mountains]]
[[Category:Endemic flora of the United States]]
[[Category:Garden plants of North America]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants of North America]]
[[Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States]]