MILK-WORT. 247 



MILK-WORT. 



POLYGALA. 



POLYGALE^. - DIADELPHIA OCTANDKIA. 



Polygala is from the Greek, and signifies much milk : the plants, 

 when eaten by cattle, being supposed to make them yield much milk. 

 French, Y herbe a lait; laitier. — Italian, poiigala; all of a similar 

 signification. 



The Polygala-myrtifolia, or Myrtle-leaved Milk-wort, 

 is a shrub growing three or four feet high. It produces 

 at the ends of the branches, red flowers, white on the out- 

 side, and of a bright purple within ; and, as it is in blos- 

 som most part of the summer, is much esteemed to adorn 

 drawing-rooms, balconies, &c. 



This shrub must be housed at the approach of winter, 

 about the middle or end of October. It must be con- 

 stantly but sparingly watered; less in the winter, than 

 when exposed to the open air in summer. 



The Spear-leaved kind, which, like the former, is a na- 

 tive of the Cape, is a very pretty plant, flowering from 

 May to July, and may be treated in the same manner. 



MIMOSA. 



LEGUMIN08.E. POLYGAMXA MONOECIA. 



Commonly called the Sensitive-plant. — French, herbe vive [live 

 herb]; herbe sensible ; herbe sensitive ; acacia. — /ta//aw, sensitiva. 



Some few species of the Mimosa may be preserved in a 

 warm inhabited room ; but they are mostly kept in a stove, 

 and few of them will bear the open air even in summer. 

 Like hum?.n beings, they are more sensitive in proportion 



