POLYGALACEAE. 



VOL. II. 



4. Polygala cruciata L. Cross-leaved or Marsh Milkwort. Fig. 2698. 



Poly gala cruciata L. Sp. PI. 706. 1753. 



P. Torreyi Chodat, Mem. Mus. Gen. 3i 2 : 194. 1893. 



Annual, erect, glabrous, 4'-i6' high, at length 

 freely branching above ; stem square or slightly 

 wing-angled. Basal leaves none; those of the stem 

 and branches verticillate in 4's, or a few of them 

 scattered, linear or oblanceolate, i'-ii' long, i"-2" 

 wide, entire, obtuse, mucronulate, the lower smaller; 

 spike-like racemes oval, obtuse, 4"-9" thick, sessile 

 or short-peduncled; pedicels slender, ii"-2" long; 

 bracts persistent; flowers purple, greenish or white; 

 wings triangular-ovate, sessile, somewhat cordate, 

 acute, acuminate or awn-pointed, ii"-3" long, much 

 exceeding the pods; crest of the corolla minute; 

 seed oblong, slightly hairy, about equalling the 

 caruncle. 



In sandy swamps, Maine to Florida ; Michigan to Min- 

 nesota, Nebraska and Louisiana. Drumheads. July- 

 Sept. 



5. Polygala brevifolia Nutt. Short-leaved 

 Milkwort. Fig. 2699. 



Polygala brevifolia- Nutt. Gen. 2: 89. 1818. 



Resembling the preceding species, but is lower, 

 more slender and weaker. Leaves shorter, often 

 scattered on the branches and upper part of the stem ; 

 spikes smaller (3"-s" thick), on slender peduncles; 

 wings ovate or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or mucronu- 

 late. 



In sandy swamps, coast of Rhode Island to Florida 

 and Mississippi. Summer. 



6. Polygala verticillata L. Whorled Milk- 

 wort. Fig. 2700. 



Polygala verticillata L. Sp. PI. 706. 1753. 



Annual, glabrous, very slender, 6'-i2 r high, 

 usually branched, the branches often opposite. 

 Basal leaves none ; stem-leaves linear, 3"-is" 

 long, "-2" wide; acute, entire, punctate, mucron- 

 ulate, mostly verticillate in 4*5 or 5's, with some 

 scattered ones on the stem or branches; spikes 

 conic, long-peduncled, acute, 2" thick at the base, 

 very dense, 4"-io" long; flowers greenish or pur- 

 plish; pedicels about 4" long; wings broadly oval, 

 distinctly clawed, shorter than the pod; crest of 

 the corolla manifest; seed oblong, hairy, twice 

 the length of the caruncle ; bracts deciduous. 



In dry or moist soil, mostly in fields, southern 

 Quebec and Ontario to Minnesota, Saskatchewan, 

 Nebraska, Florida and Mexico. Ascends to 2,500 ft. 

 in Virginia. June-Nov. 



