Oconee
Bells Shortia galacifolia
(herb)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Rhizomatous,
acaulescent, glabrous herbs with suborbicular to elliptic-orbicular leaves, 3-8
cm long, emarginate to truncate, coarsely crenate-serrate, base rounded to
cordate. Flowers solitary, scapose, scapes to 18 cm long, 3-5 bracteate with 5
sepals. Corolla white to pinkish, campanulate, 2-2.5 cm long with petals united
1/24 or less their length; capsulte 5-6 mm long. Flowers March-April and
produces fruit from July-August.
GENERAL HABITAT: Found in mesic forests in association with mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and rhododendron.
