76 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



/. fulva. N. Is smaller, like the other, grows in like situ- 

 ations, has obtuse leaves, and the spurred petal longer than the 

 other ; flowers deep-yellow, but smaller, and crowded with spots. 



These two species are of little consequence, and differ very 

 little from each other ; often confounded. 



/. balsamina. L. Garden Snapper, or Balsam. Cultiva- 

 tion has produced a great variety of flowers, single, double, and 

 of a great variety of colors, 60 varieties being sometimes found 

 in one garden. 



ORDER 129. POLYGALE^. The Milkwort Tribe. 



Calyx of 5 irregular sepals, 3 being exterior and 2 interior, 

 wing-hke and petal-like; petals 3-5, of which the keel is an- 

 terior, and larger, and often crested ; stamens as well as petals 

 hypogynous, 8, usually in one set or tube ; ovary superior, com- 

 pressed, 2-celled ; leaves generally alternate ; flowers commonly 

 racemose, small, sometimes quite showy. 



The leaves are bitter, and the roots usually milky ; among 

 these plants, we find very different properties, stimidant, diuretic, 

 expectorant, cathartic, sudorific, emetic. Not a very numerous 

 order ; and some parts of it are much confined to particular 

 regions. Polygala is more widely spread than the others. Some 

 of the order are herbaceous. 



Polygala, L. 16. 6. 



P. senega. L. Seneca Snake Root. Grows in the Middle 

 and Southern States, and is in this State cultivated by the Shakers. 

 Stem a foot high, erect, branching, with pale leaves ; flowers 

 whitish, in a terminal spike. Medicinal. Bigelow's "Medical 

 Botany." The root is hard and strong, and is much used in 

 medicine, and contains the pecuhar vegetable principle, senegin. 



P. verlicillata. L. Dwarf Snake Root. Stem near a foot 

 high, erect, branched, slender ; leaves whorled or solitary, linear 

 and remote ; flowers small, greenish-white, in spiked racemes ; 

 grows in sandy soils, and blossoms in July. 



