38 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Sub-Spec:es II.— Polygala depressa, Wenderolh. 



Plate CLXXXVII. 



Reich. Ic. FJ. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCCXLVII. Fig. 1. 

 P. serpyllacea, Weihe, Bot. Zeit. Vol. II. p. 745. 



P. vulgaris, var. depressa, Bah. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. v. p. 41. Hook. & Am. Brit. Fl. 

 ed. viii. p. 52. 



Stems filiform, weak, flexuous, procumbent, scarcely at all 

 woody, branched, the flowering shoots sometimes arranged in an 

 umbellate manner. Lower leaves nearly opposite, ovate, most of 

 them spreading or reflexed, often sub-distichous ; the upper ones 

 elliptical, more distinctly alternate. Racemes 3- to 10-flowered, 

 at first terminal, but the primary ones usually becoming lateral by 

 the subsequent growth of an axillary branch which resembles a 

 continuation of the main stem. Central bract shorter than the 

 pedicel when the flowers are fully expanded. 



On heaths and grassy places both dry and damp. Very common 

 throughout the whole of Britain. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Spring and Summer. 



This is a much more slender plant than any of the forms placed 

 under P. eu-vulgaris, witli the stems 2 to 10 inches long, less 

 numerous, less branched at the base, and not forming dense tufts ; 

 the lower leaves more spreading or divaricate, as well as nearly 

 opposite, and all usually less crowded ; the flowers earlier, fewer, 

 smaller, and less distinctly secund in fruit. The colour is equally 

 variable; dark or light blue, purple, pink, and white being all common 

 colours. Some of the larger and stouter forms of P. depressa cer- 

 tainly closely resemble the smaller examples of P. eu-vulgaris, 

 especially the var. oxyptera ; but, on the whole, there is usually 

 little difficulty in recognizing the plant, which is by far the most 

 common Milkwort in Britain. 



Lesser Common Illlkwort. 



SPECIES II.— P OLYGALA CALCAREA. F. SchuUz. 



Plate CLXXXVIII. 



Heidi. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCCXLIX. Fig. 1. 



P. amara, I). Don, Eng. Bot. Sup. No. 2764. 



P. vulgaris, var. />, Hook. &, Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 52. 



Rootstock producing numerous branches terminating in short 

 leafy stems ; some of them barren, others having rather large obo- 

 vate crowded leaves forming an imperfect rosette, from which arise 



