124 MILKWORT FAMILY 



ored flowers are somewhat smaller, the racemes are more 

 closely flowered, the plants are smooth instead of minutely 

 hairy, and late in the season bear many cleistogamous 

 flowers in subterranean racemes. 



The name milkwort records an old belief that animals 

 feeding on these plants yielded an increased supply of 

 milk. Several species have been used in medical practice, 

 and are also among the many plants that have won 

 unmerited fame as remedies for snake-bites. 



FLOWERS IN SHORT, COMPACT HEADS 



Polygala Rugelii. Flowers bright yellow, heads somewhat 

 globose, about 1 in. long. Plants 1-2 ft. tall. Leaves alter- 

 nate, entire, 1-2 in. long, upper leaves shorter. Pinelands. 

 Blooming chiefly in spring and summer. Fla. 



Polygala lutea. Flowers orange-yellow. Heads oblong, 

 generally 1-2 in. long. Plants 4-15 in. tall. Low pinelands. 

 Blooming all the year. Fla. to N. Y. and Miss. 



Polygala nana. Flowers greenish yellow. Heads 1-2 in. 

 long. Plants 1-5 in. tall. Pinelands. Fla. to S. C. and La. 



Polygala cmciata. Flowers rose-purple or tinged with 

 green. Heads oblong or oval, about 1 in. long. Plants 4-16 

 in. tall. Leaves narrow, in whorls of 4. Marshy places. 

 Blooming in spring and summer. Fla. to La. and north- 

 ward. 



Polygala incamata. Flowers purple or pink. Heads small, 

 cylindrical. Petal-tube longer than sepals. Plants 6-30 in. 

 tall, seldom branched. Leaves alternate, scalelike or short. 

 Sandy soil. Blooming all the year. Fla. to Pa., Ark., and 

 Wis. 



Polygala setacea. Flowers greenish white, minute. Heads 

 small, pointed, narrow. Plants 4-20 in. tall, very slender. 

 Leaves minute, scalelike. Pinelands. Blooming all the year. 

 Fla. to N. C. 



