BITTER POLYGALA. 431 
Bractes small, ovate-lanceolate, caducous. Wings 
of the calyx rhomboid-oval, obtuse, with a. slight 
middle nerve. Corolla small, closed, of three 
seements, the middle’ one largest and crested by 
the division of ‘its sides and extremity. Anthers 
eight; forming a double row, the filaments coa- 
lescing.' ‘Germ ‘compressed, inversely heart- 
shaped; style deflexed ; stigma bearded inside, 
witha’ prominence’ below it. Capsule inversely 
heart-shaped, nearly smooth, margined, and in- 
vested with the wings of the calyx. Seeds two, 
obovate, hairy, with a transparent ‘appendage or 
strophiole on the| inside. From the base of the 
stems | proceed a number of prostrate shoots 
situated upon, and sometinies nearly under the 
ground, bearing'a row of iicomplete fertile flowers. 
These flowers are furnished with 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. | 
Like some of the European species which it 
resembles in habit, this plant is a strong and 
permanent bitter, imparting its sensible proper- | 
ties both to spirit and to water. ‘1 digested a 
portion of the dried plant in ether, and added 
aleohol to the solution. No change was ‘visible | 
at the time of mixture, but on standing till the 
18 
