174 XVI. POLYGALACE^. Polygala. 



long spikes ; calycine wings obovate. — (T) An erect plant, 6 — 1'2' high, found in 

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

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

 ending in a smaller .spike than that of the main stem, but rising above it in 

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



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



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

 bose; calycine wings eWi'ptic-dbo'vaXe, attenuate at base, twice longer than the 

 fruit; crest minute. — (I) Martha's Vineyard, Oakes. R.I. Olney! to La. Stem 

 &— 10' high. Leaves 6— S" by 1—2", acute. Spikes 5—10" long, 4— 6"diam. 

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



3. P. CRUCiATA. Cross-leaved Polygala. 



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

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

 crest minute. — ® In sphagnous swamps and other low groimds. Stem 3—12' 

 high, very slender, smooth, slightly winged 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 Polygala. 



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

 cauline ones lanceolate, acute ; rac. ovate, obtuse, dense ; fls. pedicellate ; wings 

 ovate, mucronate ; keel with a minute crest. — (g) 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. Flesli-colored Milkwort. 



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

 subulate; i^Ti/ke oblong, terminal ; wm.o-s lanceolate, cuspidate ; claws of the petals 

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

 1 — 2fhigh. Leaves 4 — 6" long, remote. Spikes 1 — 1§' 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. 



* * Spikes elongated or razevvose. 



6. P. VERTiciLLATA. Whorl-Uaved Polygala. 



St. branched, erect ; Ivs. linear, verticillate ; spikes linear, stalked ; fls. 

 alternate, crested ; calycine wings roundish. — ® Found on dry hills, U. S. and 

 Can. Stem very slender, square, 6 — 8' high. Leaves in whorls ol 5 or 6, 

 4 — 10" long, 1" 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. AMBiGUA. Nutt. Dubunis Polygala. 



St. erect, with virgate branches ; Ivs. linear, lower ones verticillate, upper 

 alternate ; spikes dense, on long peduncles ; calycine wings roundish. — (i) Dry 

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

 branched. Leaves sessile, tapering to the base, 4 — 10" by 1". Racemes spicate, 

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

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



8. P. Senega. Seneca Snake-root. 



St. erect, smooth, simple, leafy ; Ivs. alternate, lanceolate, tapering at 

 each end ; fls. slightly crested, in a terminal, spike-lbrm, slender raceme.— '2^ 

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

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

 Leaves 1 — 3' long, J as wide, 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. POLYGAMA. Walt. (P. rubella. Willd.) Bitter Polygala. 



Ste. simple, numerous; Ivs. linear, oblong, mucronate, alternate below; 



