24. Galearis Rafinesque, Herb. Raf. 71. 1833.
Showy orchis [Latin galea, helmet]
Charles J. Sheviak & Paul M. Catling
Herbs, perennial, scapose, rather succulent. Roots not tuberously thickened, fascicled, fleshy. Stems bractless proximal to inflorescence, conspicuously angled. Leaves [1–]2, basal, spreading, conduplicate, gradually narrowed to sheathing petioles; blade oblance-ovate to obovate, elliptic, or suborbiculate, apex rounded-obtuse. Inflorescences terminal, solitary, racemose spikes; bracts large, foliaceous. Flowers 2–15, resupinate, showy; lip protruding downward from hood formed by sepals and enclosing petals, base produced into spur; pollinaria 2; pollinia 2; viscidia within single 2-lobed bursicle; stigma concave, hidden behind bursicle. Fruits capsules, erect.
Species 2 (1 in the flora): e North America, 1 in e Asia.
