128 xv. polygale/e (oliver). [Poly gala. 



nutely puberulous annual of 1-2 ft., with scattered filiform leaves £-1 in. 

 long. Flowers in terminal erect racemes of 2-12 in. Pedicels about equal 

 to the free outer sepals ; bracts very minute, subulate, persistent. Wing- 

 sepals obovate-rotuudate, minutely pubescent, with 3-5 principal looping 

 nerves. Lateral petals with a short erect tooth on the inner side or broadly 

 and nearly equally 2-fid. Capsule obovate-oblong, retuse, pubescent or 

 glabrous, not winged. 



Var. o. Lateral petals with tooth on inner side. 

 Upper Guinea. Sierra Leone, Morson ! 

 Var. 3. Lateral petals equally obtusely 2-fid. 



Lower Guinea. Angola, prov. Pungo Andongo, Dr. Wehvitsch ! 

 Were it not for the difference in the form of the lateral petals, I should have been 

 strongly inclined to uuite this plant with P. tenuicaulis or P. multiflora. 



5. P. arenaria, WiUd.; DC. Prod. i. 326. A very variable annual 

 herb from a few inches to 1 or 2 ft. in height, erect and forking or diffuse with 

 divaricate branches. Leaves from linear to oval or obovate-elliptical, obtuse 

 or rarely subacute, narrowed to the base, sessile or petioles up to 2 lines, 

 more or less shortly hirsute- or pilose-pubescent at least when young, 1-3 

 in. long, i-f in. broad. Flowers reflexed, crowded on short, thick, shortly 

 peduncled or sessile clover-like heads or racemes usually shorter than the 

 leaves, often over-topped by lateral branches, or sometimes axillary and when 

 numerous almost confluent, forming an interrupted or leafy spicate or strobi- 

 liform inflorescence. Outer sepals strongly herbaceous. Wing-sepals vari- 

 able in size, ovate or ovate-rotund ate, often very oblique, nerves faint or 

 decided at the base only. Lateral petals obliquely ovate or elliptical, entire 

 or obscurely and obtusely lobed on the inner side. Capsule obovate or ellip- 

 tical, emarginate, more or less narrowly winged in front, pubescent, shorter 

 than the wings. — P. nutans, Hook. f. Fl. Nigrit. 222. 



Upper Guinea. By the Niger, Barter ! T. Vogel I and others. 



Nile Land. Upper Nile, Speke and Grant ! 



Lower Guinea. Congo, Smith ! Burton ! Angola, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



Var. andongensis. 1 to 6 in. tall. Leaves oval to obovate-elliptical. Flower-heads 

 terminal and axillary. Lateral petals rotundate. Capsule entire.— Angola, prov. Pungo 

 Andongo, Dr. Welwitsch ! ' 



Of this species I have had the opportunity, through the courtesy of Dr. Welwitsch, of 

 examining a most extensive and well-selected set, which convinces me that very considerable 

 range must be allowed to it in the form and size of the leaves and general form oi the 

 inflorescence, the aspect of the latter varying with the development of Miliary heads below, 

 which often become confluent. The little plant distinguished as var. andongensis may be 

 considered entitled to specific distinction on account of its entire capsules, but in other re- 

 spects it is very similar to the common form. A variety of this plant grows at Natal. 



6. P. triflora, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 333. An erect, diffuse or decum- 

 bent, often much -branched, pubescent or puberulous annual, the erect form 

 attaining 1 or 2 ft. Leaves narrow-linear to linear-oblong, more or Jess 

 pointed obtuse or even retuse in the broad-leaved forms, pubescent stvigil- 

 lose or glabrate» usually \-\ in. long, £-2 lines broad, sometimes shorter 

 and narrower. Flowers in extra-axillary or axillary, few-ilowered fascicles 

 heads or racemes, much shorter than the leaves, sometimes solitary. Bracts 



