This section is from the book "The Gardener's Monthly And Horticulturist V22", by Thomas Meehan. See also: Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long.
The history of this extremely rare native, is now quite generally known, but for the sake of those who may not have heard of it I may say it is a neat and pretty little plant with Pyrola or Galax-like leaves and pure white campanulate blossoms. In 1778 it was discovered by the elder Michaux in the mountains of North Carolina; he secured imperfect specimens for his herbarium. No more was seen or heard of the plant till 1839, when Dr. Asa Gray upon examining the Michaux herbarium found the specimens upon the strength of which, in 1812 he designated and described it as a new genus, giving it the above name. Beyond that specimen, not another vestige of the plant dead or alive, was known to exist till 1878, when it was rediscovered by Mr. Hyams, who presented us with a fine living plant.
Our plant received in 1878, was potted and wintered in a cool greenhouse where it blossomed prettily in February, 1879, and caused quite a sensation in botanical and scientific circles. Hundreds of visitors came specially to see it. In April we planted it in a shady rockery out of doors, leaving it there unmolested till November, when we lifted and repotted it, and again wintered it in the greenhouse. As it had nearly completed growth before being planted out of doors, it did not grow much during the summer, but it plumped up considerably and appeared quite cosy and at home. In September I observed it had formed seven solid somewhat oval crowns, closely embedded, as it were, in the neck of the plant. These were flower buds, but to the casual observer would likely appear like growth-crowns. They did not emerge from their beds till early in February when they arose slowly, perfected and expanded. The flowers opened on stalks an inch long, but these stalks lengthened with age to three and four inches; and when the plant was in full blossom it looked a little way off, like a primrose. The blossoms which are solitary, in mid-day perfection measure 1 1/8 inches across, and last in good condition some two weeks or more.
It has not ripened seed with us because the pistils mature before the stamens, and we would require to have two or more plants in blossom, having a few days difference in their stage of advancement in order to secure fertilization. Our plant has five leaves measuring from 3 to 4 1/2 inches long, that is (taking one 4{ inches), leaf-stalk 2 1/4 inches., blade 2 inches by 1| inches wide; besides these there is a dense rosette of much smaller leaves. The color of the old leaves is a glossy bronze green, but of the young ones a bright polished green.
Last year I referred to the Shortia as " a sweet little plant, not showy by any means, but a welcome garden alpine," but this year on account of its increased vigor and floral superiority over last year, I pronounce it a charming little beauty. Of course I cannot say it is a hardy plant, because I have not proved it to be so, nevertheless I feel assured it is as hardy as Galax aphylla, its companion at home, and which is hardy here.
 
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