Shortia galacifolia

Plants sometimes forming dense groundcover. Leaves: petiole 4-9(-15) cm; blade base round-ed to cordate. Inflorescences: scape 10-18 cm; bracts 3-5, usually closely subtending calyx. Flowers spreading to slightly nodding. Capsules 5-7 mm. 2n = 12.

Lvs orbicular to broadly elliptic or subcordate, 2-7 cm, toothed, on petioles 3-14 cm; scapes 1-2 dm; fls nodding; cor white, rarely pale pink or blue, 1.5-2.5 cm, the broadly rounded lobes conspicuously erose; fr 5-7 mm, surpassed by the persistent, slightly accrescent cal; 2n=12. Shady banks along streams, and in moist, wooded ravines; scattered localities from Amherst Co., Va. to S.C. and Ga. Mar.-Apr. (Sherwoodia g.)

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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