rOLYGALACE^E. 35 



Herbs, underslirubs, or shrubs, with flowers variable in colour, 

 in racemes, spikes, or heads, which are terminal or lateral. 



Tlie generic name is derived from ttoXu {poly), much, and ya\a (gala), milk, alluding 

 to the reputed effects of the plant on the cattle that feed on it. 



SPECIES I.— POLY GALA VULGARIS. Lhm. 

 Plates CLXXXV. CLXXXVI. CLXXXVII. 



Rootstock producing numerous stems, and much branched, 

 especially at the base. Leaves of the base of the stems ovate, those 

 of the flowering shoots generally elliptical or lanceolate, becoming 

 gradually longer than those below, which are not collected into a 

 rosette at the base of the shoot. Calyx wings Avith the nerves 

 rather conspicuous, the central nerve almost unbranched to near 

 the apex, where it gives off branches which anastomose with the 

 lateral nerves, which have numerous anastomosing branches on the 

 outer side ; or rarely the lateral veins anastomose directly with the 

 central one. Strophiolc of the seed with the lobes unequal, the 

 lateral ones about one-third the length of the seed. 



Sub-Species I.— Polygala eu-vulgaris. 



Plates CLXXXV. CLXXXVI. 



P. vulgaris, Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ, et Helv. p. 99. 



P. vulgaris, var. a, Bab. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. v. p. -il. Ilooh. & Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 52. 



Stems woody and procumbent at the base, and then usually 

 ascending or erect, rather stiff, much branched near the base ; the 

 flowering shoots never umbellate. Leaves ascending, scattered 

 throughout, but more crowded below ; upper ones lanceolate. 

 Racemes many-flowered, terminal. Central bract about as long 

 as the pedicel when the flowers are fully expanded. 



Var. a, gemdna.. 



Plate CLXXXV. 



P. vulgaris, Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCCXLVI. Fig. L 

 P. vulgaris, Gr. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. I. p. 195. 



Branches erect or ascending, straight. Racemes 10- to 20- 

 Bowered. Calyx wings oval-obovate, broader than the fruit. 

 Pedicels glabrous. Margin of the bracts, calyx wings, petals, and 

 capsule not ciliated. 



Var. /3, grandijlora. 



" Upper leaves large, lanceolate. Calyx wings elliptical, api- 

 culatc, with lateral veins rejoining the mostly simple central vein 



