CONSPECTUS POLYGALARUM EUROP^ARUM. 273 



Fig. Sibth. et Sm., Fl. Gr^c, vii., t. 669. 



In saxosis Grseci^ et insularum vicinarum. 



This is a very interesting species, apparently confined to Greece 

 and the islands of the Archipelago, and is there rare. From the 

 species to which I consider it most nearly allied — characterised by 

 their conspicuous corolla greatly exceeding the wing-sepals in 

 length — it is distinguished by its much narrower flower, somewhat 

 oblique wing-sepals, and sessile capsule. In general appearance it 

 bears a close resemblance to P. Preslii, but is a smaller more 

 pubescent jDlant, with smaller flowers. The oblique wing- sepals, 

 the form of the summit of the style (falcate and not x^rolonged 

 into a point), and the remarkable conspicuous elevated arillode, 

 with only a trace of lateral appendages, would even seem to indi- 

 cate an affinity with Asiatic or even African species, such as 

 P. persicarirefolia or erioptera. The wing-branches spring from a 

 very woody root- stock. 



'^'''' Cai^sule stipitate. 



10. P. MAJOR, Jacq., Fl. Austr., v., 6 ; DC, Prodr., i., 324; Reich., 

 PI. Crit., i., 27 ; Ic, xviii., 91 ; Koch, Fl. Germ., 98 ; Led., 

 Fl. Eoss., i., 270; Griseb., Fl. Rum., i., 240; Bert., Fl. 

 It., vh., 318; Sm. et Sibth., Fl. Gragc, ii., 52 ; Boiss., Fl. 

 Or., i., 474; Car. in Nuov. Giorn. Bot. It., i., 20; Woods, 

 Tour. Flor., 43. P. ramis ascendentibus, validis, subramosis ; 

 foliis caulinis linearibus vel lineari-lanceolatis, infimis sub- 

 obovatis ; racemis comosis ; bracteis lateralibus quam pedi- 

 cellum duplo longioribus, ciliatis ; sepalis exterioribus lanceo- 

 latis, leviter ciliatis ; alls late ovalibus vel ovatis, venosis ; 

 corolla quam alas multo longiore ; petalis lateralibus cari- 

 nam multo excedentibus ; ovarii stij)ite quam ovarium triplo 

 vel quadruplo longiore ; stylo elongato ; capsula obcordata, 

 late alata, quam stii^item duplo longiore ; seminibus hir- 

 sutis ; arillodio galeato, subcarnoso, subgaleato, appendi- 

 cibus tribus munito, quarum dorsalis brevis, duae laterales 

 tamen dimidium seminis attingunt. 



Syn. p. niccBensis, Boiss., Fl. Or., i., 475 (non Riss.) 



Figs. Jacq., Fl. Austr., t. 413; Reich., PL Grit., f. 59, 60; 



Ic, t. mcccl., f. 3. 



Per Europam australem et orientalem ab Italia meridionali 



Austriaque usque ad Graeciam Rossiamque centralem, nec- 



non in Asia Minore, Armenia, Persiaque occidentali. 



The largest and handsomest of European Polygalas, marked by 



its very stout branches and large rose-coloured flowers, with the 



crest extending considerably beyond the wing-sepals. The much 



more prominent arillode, with three distinct appendages, indicates 



an approximation to prevalent Asiatic and African forms. It is a 



distinctly Mediterranean type, though no locality is recorded from 



the southern shore ; but the unfortunate confusion between this 



species, 7^. nicu'emia, and I', ro^iea, renders its exact distribution 



2n 



