174 XVI. POLYGALACEZ. PouyGaua. 
long spikes; calycine wings obovate-—@ An erect plant, 6—12’ 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. Nurranui. T. &G. (P. sanguinea. Nutt.) Nuttall’s Polygala. 
St. erect, somewhat fastigiate; dvs. linear; spikes rather loose, ovoid-glo- 
bose; calycine wings elliptic-obovate, attenuate at base, twice longer than the 
fruit; crest minute——Q) Martha’s Vineyard, Oakes. R. I. Olney! to La. Stem 
6—10’ high. Leaves 6—8” by 1—2”, acute. Spikes 5—10” long, 4—6” diams 
Wings of the calyx rose-red. Seeds black. Aug. 
3. P. cruciatTa. Cross-leaved Polygala. 
St. erect, somewhat fastigiate, winged at the angles; lvs. verticillate in 
4s, linear-oblong, punctate, spikes ovate, dense, obtuse, sessile or nearly so; 
crest minute.—@ In sphagnous swamps and other low grounds. 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. wurea. Yellow Polygala. 
St. simple or branching; root lvs. spatulate, obtuse, attenuate at base, 
cauline ones lanceolate, acute; vac. ovate, obtuse, dense; fis. pedicellate; wings 
ovate, mucronate; keel 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. FYesh-colored Milkwort. 
Glaucous; st. erect, slender, mostly simple; lws. few, scattered, linear- 
subulate; spike oblong, terminal; wings lanceolate, cuspidate; claws of the petals 
united into a long, cleft tube—@ Dry soils N. J. to Flor. W. to Ark. Stem 
1—2f high. 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 racemose. 
6. P. verTIcILLATA. Whorl-leaved Polygala. 
St. branched, erect; lvs. linear, verticillate; spikes linear, stalked; fls. 
alternate, crested ; calycine wings roundish. @) Found on dry hills, U. 8. and 
Can. Stem very slender, square, 6—8’ high. Leaves in whorls of 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. ampicua. Nutt. Dubious Polygala. 
St. erect, with virgate branches; ls. linear, lower ones verticillate, wpper 
alternate; spikes dense, on long peduncles ; calycine wings roundish.—@) Dr 
fields and woods, Mass. to Va. Stem 9—15’ high, angular, smooth, Ma | 
branched. Leaves sessile, tapering to the base,4—10” by 1”. Racemes spicate, 
acute, about 1’ long, 20—30-flowered, on peduncles 14—24/ long. Flowers 
small, greenish-white, tinged with purple. Jl.—Nearly allied to P. verticillata. 
8. P. Senkca. Seneca Snake-root. 
St. erect, smooth, simple, leafy; vs. alternate, lanceolate, tapering at 
each end; fis. slightly crested, in a terminal, spike-form, slender raceme.—2. 
Woods, Western States, rare in Eastern. Root ligneous, branched, contorted, 
about 4! thick, ash-colored. Stems 8—14! high, several from the same root. 
Leaves 1—3! long, } 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. porycima. Walt. (P. rubella. Willd.) Bitter Polygala. — 
Sts. simple, numerous; Jvs. linear, oblong, mucronate, alternate below; 
