HYPOPETALES. 341 
ORDER XCI. 
POLYGALE#. 
Cuaracters.—Shrubs or herbs, with alternate leaves ge- 
nerally simple, without stipules ; flowers in racemes or ter- 
minal spikes, generally small, and with 2 or 3 bracteas at the 
_ base; calyx of from 3 to 5 sepals, often irregular and un- 
- equal, often 3 exterior, (1 superior, and 2 inferior) and 2 in- 
terior ; corolla of 3 petals, with 1 larger than the other 2, 
or of 5 petals, with 2 minute, the petals sometimes united at 
the base ; stamens generally 8, and united by the filaments 
into 2 fasciculi, sometimes 2 or 3 distinct ; sometimes 4 ; an- 
thers 1-celled, and dehiscing at the apex ; ovary 2 or 3 
_eelled, each cell having 1 pendulous ovule (rarely 2); style 
_and stigma simple ; pericarp a minute capsule, sometimes a 
little fleshy, of 1 or 2 cells, indehiscent or dehiscing by 2 
_ valves ; seed pendulous, with a fleshy albumen. 
_ Exampies.—Milkwort (Polygala), Ratanhy (Krameria.) 
Mepictwat Properties.—The plants in this small family 
are in general slightly acrid, bitter, and tonic, as Polygala 
‘amara (P. uliginosa) and P. Senega: the latter is also a 
powerful stimulant, and emetic and purgative in large doses. 
The root of Ratanhy (Krameria triandria), contains much 
astringent matter, and the extract bears a considerable re- 
“semblance to kino in its properties and appearance. Rat- 
anhy root “ is one of the substances which, in conjunction 
_ with gum kino, is used for adulterating port-wine in Eng- 
Jand.” Lindley. 
Officinal Plants. 
Polygala Senega. 
Krameria triandri 
