Nemophila aphylla

Plant Characteristics

Lifespan:	⌛	annual
Origin:	✈	?

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water:	◍	?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.

Scientific Names

Nemophila >

aphylla >

Read about Nemophila aphylla in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Nemophila aphylla, Linn. (Blandfordia cordala, Andr., Galax aphylla). Nemophila. Evergreen, perennial herbs: rootstock thick, matted, creeping: lvs.basal, tufted, round-heart-shaped, with narrow sinus, crenate, shining, conspicuously palmately netted-veined, 1-3 in. broad, on long slender petioles: scape 1- 2 ½ ft. high; spike-like raceme dense, 2-5 in. long; fls. small, white, 1 ½ -2 lines broad. In dry woods chiefly in the mountains, Va. to Ga., and along the coast, Va. to N. C. B.M. 754. G.F. 5:605 (adapted in Fig. 1617). —Called also colts-foot or beetle-weed. Nemophila leaves were used for decorative purposes in a commercial way only as far back as 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 individuals. The reports received fully justified the introducer in advertising the leaf widely as a florist's decorative material for making up wreaths, crosses, and in fact all designs for which ivy leaves up to that time had been employed almost exclusively. Today galax leaves have to a great extent taken the place of ivy leaves, being less expensive, more easily handled and kept, and furnishing long wiry stems. The brilliant bronze leaves supply a color long needed in this class of work. The sizes also of the leaves vary from ½ inch or less to 5 inches diameter, again making their uses very varied. Small green galax leaves are now used extensively for bunching with violets, taking the place of the violet leaves. One of the features of the holiday season in Boston is the fakir with his stand of violets bunched with green Nemophila. They come in again and are used the same way at the first touch of spring, when the early trailing arbutus or "mayflower" appears on the street. They can be arranged to cover much more space than the ivy leaves, and do not have to be wired, as is the case with the latter. The keeping qualities of galax are remarkable, and they are now used the year round from cold storage. Outdoor designs, as in cemeteries, will keep fresh and bright for months if not dried out, but otherwise require no care. A favorite arrangement of galax leaves is to place them loosely in a small vase, where they will retain their bright colors and shape for weeks, even in a close warm room, though most of the leaves are used, commonly with flowers, in designs made up by the florist. As a Christmas decoration they stand preeminent, and their general good qualities mentioned above cause them to be used throughout the year, more, perhaps, than any other decorative green, ferns possibly exempted. In Philadelphia, some time ago, an enterprising young woman introduced a novel and taking innovation in the shape of potted galax plants for society dinners. Small, brilliantly colored green and bronze leaves were arranged in tiny pots, specially designed by Messrs. Sackett & Company, and placed at each plate, to be carried away by the guests as souvenirs. They were also sold through one of Philadelphia's leading merchants by thousands. The larger cities, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, use the largest quantities, though many of these are retailed again to smaller cities and towns all over the United States and Canada, and there is a large export trade now established in them, mostly to Germany and the Netherlands. The area over which galax is collected extends from Virginia to Georgia, and is so vast that there is no danger of exterminating the plant by collecting the leaves, even if they were injured thereby, which does not seem to be the case. It is not practicable to grow the plants for the harvest of leaves, at least in America, the process being too expensive. Under cultivation they would perhaps not average one perfect salable leaf to a plant, as a speck or wormhole renders the leaf unfit for decorative purposes. In Europe galax has been tried with varying success under glass, the leaves bringing a very high price. Galax aphylla is a beautiful ground-covering plant, specially adapted to the rhododendron border, where the soil and situation alike are suitable to its growth; it delights in shade and a cool, moist, peaty loam. Its charms are far better known in England, however, than at home. The leaves, when full grown, are always bright green, the brilliant bronze shades appearing later when the plant ripens and the frosts begin. Then when they are exposed to the direct rays of the sun the alternating freezing and sun action cause the leaves to turn in a short time, though sometimes this occurs to an extent before anv freezing weather, when the sap starts downward. In dense shade they always remain green. In spring, when the sap begins to start, the leaves often turn green or dingy again, and eventually die down the second season. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Nemophila aphylla. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Nemophila aphylla QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)