iVi :vVI. I'iJLYGALACEJE, . Polygala. 



long spikes; caiycine wings obovate. — ® An erect plant, G — 12' high, found in 

 meadows andv/et grounds, Mass. to La., and known at once by its short, red- 

 dish, cylindric spike of flowers. Stem angular, with fastigiate branches, each 

 ending m a smaller spike than tliat of the'main stem, but rising above it in 

 height. Flowers purple, caducous. Jl. — Oct. 



3. P. NuTTALLii. T. & G. (P. sanguinea. Nutt.) NuttalVs Polygala. 



St. erect, somewhat fastigiate; Ivs- linear; spikes rather loose, ovoid-glo- 



Wings of the calyx rose-red. Seeds black. Aug 



3. P. CRUCiATA. Cross-kaved Polygala. 



St. erect, somewhat fastigiate, winged at the angles; Ivs. verticillate in 

 4s, linear-oblong, punctate, spikes ovate, dense, obtuse, sessile or nearly so j 

 crest minute. — ® In sphngnous swamps and other low grounds. Stem 3 — 12'' 

 high, very slender, smooth, slightly v/inged at the 4 angles. Leaves 2—10" or 

 more long, 1 — 2" wide (upper ones the largest), obtuse, tapering to the 'base, 

 with small, resinous dots. '' Spikes capitate, about the size of the last. Wings 

 of calyx greenish-purple, much dilated at apex. Aug. 



4. P. LUTEA. Yellow Polygcda. 



St. simple or branching'; root Ivs. spatulate, obtuse, attenuate at base^ 

 emline ones lanceolate, acute ;. rae. ovate, obtuse, dense ; /s. pedicellate ; ivings 

 ovate, mucronste; Jceel with a minute crest. — (|) Sandy plains, N. J. to Flor. 

 Stem 8 — 12' high, generally with a 'few long spreading branches. Flowers, 

 bright yellow, longer than the bracts. Style dilated in the middle and with a 

 stipitate gland. Jn. — Oct. 



5. P. INCARNATA. Flesh-colorcd Milkwort. 



Glaucous ; St. erect, slender, mostly simple ; Ivs. fev/, scattered, linear- 

 subulate- s;«7t-c oblong, terminal ; %"ings lanceolate, cuspidate ; elaies of the petals 

 united into a long, cleft tube.— (I) Dry soils N. J. to Flor. W. to Ark. Stem 

 1— 2fhigh. Leaves 4 — G" long, remote. Spikes 1—1 J' long. Flowers pale 

 rose-color or flesh-color. The slender corolla tube nearly twice as long as the 

 wings, the keel with a conspicuous crest. Jn. Jl. 



* * Sp'Jccs elongated or racenwse. 



6. P. YRRTiciiXATA. V/korl-leaved Polygula. 



St. branched, erect; Irs. linear, verticillate; i^pikes linear, stalked j fs, 

 alternate, crested; caiycine wings roundish. — (I) Found on dry hills, U. S. and 

 Can. Stem ver>' slender, square, 6 — 8' high. Leaves in whorls ot 5 or 6> 

 4 10" long, I" wide, alternate on the branches. Flowers small, greenish- 

 white, in very slender racemes 5 — 10" long, which are higher upon -the branches- 

 than upon the main stem. Jl. — Oct. 



7. P. AMEiGUA. Nutt. Dubioiis Polygala. 



St. erect, v;ith virgate branches; Ivs. linear, laice?- mies verticillate, vfper 

 alternate ; spikes dense, on long peduncles ; caiycine wings roundish. — (I) Dry 

 fields and woods, Mass. to Va. Stem 9—15' high, angular, sniooth, much 

 branched. Leaves sessile, tapering to the base, 4 — 10" by 1". Pvacemcs ppicate, 

 acute, about 1' long, 20— 30-llowered, on peduncles IJ— 2i' long. Flowers 

 small, greenish-white, tinged with purple. Jl. — Nearly allied to P. verticillata. 



8. P. Sknega. Seneca Snake-root. 



St. erect, smooth, simple, leafy ^ /'r5. alternate, lanceolate, tapering- at 

 each end; fls. slightly crested, in a terminal, spike-form, slender raceme. — 9]. 

 Woods, Western States, rare in Eastern. Root ligneous, branched', contorted,, 

 about J' thick, ash-colored. Stems 8 — 14'. high, several from the same root. 

 Leaves*! — 3' long, i as wid.", numerous, scattered. Flowers white, in a filiform 

 spike 1—3' long. Sepals obtuse, larger than the petals. The root has a sweet- 

 ish, nauseous taste, soon becoming pungent and hot. Jl. — A valuable stimu- 

 lating expectorant. 



9. P. POLYG.iMA. Walt. (P. rubella. WUld.) Bitter Polygala. 



Si's, simple, numerous; Ivs. linear, oblong, mucronate, alternate belowt 



