Class XVII. Order III. 265 



Root somewhat fusiform, perennial, branching. Stems numer- 

 ous, ascending, smooth, angular, eimple. Leaves scattered, 

 smooth ; the lower ones obovate, smaller ; the upper ones linear- 

 lanceolate, obtuse, mucronated, sessile. Flowers purple, short, 

 crested, in terminal racemes. Bractes small, ovate-lanceolate, 

 caducous. Wings of the calyx rhomboid-oval, obtuse, with a 

 slight middle nerve. Corolla small, closed, of three segments, 

 the middle one largest and crested by the division of its sides 

 and extremity. Anthers eight, forming a double row, the fila- 

 ments coalescing. Germ compressed, inversely heart shaped ; 

 style deflexed ; stigma bearded inside with a prominence below 

 it. Capsule inversely heart shaped, nearly smooth and invested 

 with the wings of the calyx. Seeds two, obovate, hairy, with a 

 transparent appendage or strophiole on the inside. From the 

 base of the stem proceed a number of prostrate shoots situated 

 upon, and sometimes nearly under the ground, bearing a row of 

 incomplete, fertile flowers. These flowers have a calyx without 

 wings, a minute corolla and stamens and a short style. The 

 germ and fruit precisely resemble those of the more perfect 

 flowers. Dry fields, Salem. June, July. Perennial. 



The whole plant is strongly bitter and used in medicine. 

 POLYGALA SENEGA. Seneca Snake Root. 



Bigelow, Medical Botany, Pl.xxx. 



Stems erect, smooth, simple. Leaves alternate, 

 lanceolate, broadest at base. Flowers slightly crested. 



The Polygala senega has a firm, hard, branching, perennial 

 root, consisting of a moderately solid wood, and a thick bark. 

 This root sends up a number of annual stems, which are simple, 

 smooth, occasionally tinged with red. The leaves are scattered, 

 nearly or quite sessile, lanceolate, with a subacute point, smooth, 

 paler underneath. Flowers white, in a close terminal spike. 

 The calyx, which in this genus is the most conspicuous part of 

 the flower, consists of five leafets, the two largest of which, or 

 wings, are roundish-ovate, white and slightly veined. Corolla 

 small, closed, having two obtuse, lateral segments, and a short 

 crested extremity. Capsules obcordate, invested by the per- 

 sistent calyx, compressed, two celled, two valved. Seeds two, 

 oblong-obovate, acute at one end, slightly hairy, curved, black- 

 34 



