266 Class XVII. Order III. 



ish, with a longitudinal, bifid, white appendage on the concave 

 side. The spike opens gradually, so that the lower flowers are 

 in fruit while the upper ones are in blossom. On the banks of 

 Lake Champlain. July. Perennial. 



The root of this species is extensively used in medicine. 



POLTGALA CRUCIATA. L. Cross leaved Polygala. 



Stem erect, branching, winged at the angles ; leaves 

 in fours, linear lanceolate ; heads spiked, sessile. 



Stem short, with four membranous angles, and opposite 

 branches. Leaves in whorls of four, sessile, smooth, lanceolate, 

 very obtuse, slightly mucronated. Flowers in a terminal, oblong 

 head. The two longer leaves of the calyx heart shaped, acute, 

 purple. In low grounds, rare, flowering in the latter part of sum- 

 mer. Annual. 



POLYGALA VERTICILLATA. L. Whorl haved Polygala, 



Stem erect, branched ; leaves verticillate, linear ; 

 spikes pedunculatecl, linear ; flowers alternate, approx- 

 imate. 



A very slender species. Stem erect, quadrangular, branched, 

 the branches usually exceeding the maia stem in height. Leaves 

 linear-lanceolate, in whorls of five or six. Spikes slender ; flow- 

 ers small, whitish, the lower one^ usually scattered. On dry 

 hills, Roxbury. July. Annual. 



POLYGALA PAUCIFOLIA. WilhL Fringed Polygala, 



Stem simple, erect, naked below ; leaves ovate, 

 acute, glabrous ; terminal flowers large, pencilled ; 

 radical flowers apterous. 



A beautiful low plant with purple flowers, larger than in most 

 others of the genus. The leaves grow mostly at the top of the 

 stem, and immediately above them are three or four very hand- 

 some, crested, purple flowers. Calyx leaves five, the uppermost 

 gibbous at base and somewhat acute, the two next longer than the 

 corolla, narrow at base, wider and obtuse at top, the two re- 

 maining ones small, acute and white. Corolla purple, the middle 

 lobe white with a purple crest. 



