140 



POLYGALACE^:. 



[CLASS 

 The Milk wort 



1 6. Natural Order Polygalaceae. 

 Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. Temperate and tropical regions in 

 both hemispheres. One British genus, species 2. 



Herbs. Flowers irregular. Stamens 8, monadelphous. 



Type Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris). 

 A low wiry perennial herb, with alternate entire leaves, 

 and racemose irregular flowers. 



OBSERVE the two large lateral inner sepals, called 

 wings, which persist and inclose the fruit : the cohesion 

 of the filaments and their adhesion to the petals, so that 

 the latter appear to form a gamopetalous corolla : the 

 i -celled anthers, dehiscing by pores : the membranous 

 hood of the stigma, apparently designed to insure self-' 

 fertilization. Actual fertilization, however, takes place 

 through the agency of bees, which thrust their probosces 

 down to the honey -gland at the base of the flower, and on 

 their withdrawal leave pollen, which they may have im- 

 ported, upon the short projecting stigmatic hook in front 

 of the spoon-shaped hood. 



17. Natural Order Acerineas. The Maple Family (a 

 Tribe of the Tropical Order Sapindacese). 



