POLYGALACE.E. (MILKWORT FAMILY.) 91 



* * * Spikes solitary : leaves whorled : flowers purple. 



15. P. cruciata, L. Stem erect, 4-angled, simple or branched; leaves 

 in fours, linear or oblong-linear, thick, obtuse, the upper ones alternate ; 

 spikes large, ovate, becoming cylindrical, short-peduncled ; wings ovate, 

 tapering into a long subulate point ; lobes of the caruncle linear, collat- 

 eral, as long as the smoothish oval seed. Pine barren swamps. July- Oct. 



Stem 6' -12' high. Spikes 1'- 2' long, f thick. Flowers pale rose-color. 

 Bracts persistent. 



16. P. brevifolia, Nutt. Stem weak, 4-angled, with long and spreading 

 branches; leaves thin, lanceolate or linear, acute, the lower ones in fours; 

 spikes small, ovate, long-peduiicled ; wings lanceolate-ovate, barely pointed; 

 caruncle as long as the obovate hairy seed, Bogs, in the lower districts. 

 July -Oct. Stem l-l- long. Spikes scarcely half as large as in the 

 preceding. Flowers reddish purple. Bracts persistent. 



1 7. P. Hookeri, Torr. & Gray. Stems short, weak, much branched, 4- 

 angled ; leaves in fours, short, linear, acutish ; spikes long-peduncled, ovate- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, loose-flowered ; wings erect, lanceolate-ovate, acute; 

 caruncle as long as the ovoid sparse-hairy and viscid seed. Low grassy pine 

 barrens, West Florida and westward. July -Sept. Stems 6' -10' high. 

 Leaves 4"- 6" long ; Flowers pale rose-color. Bracts persistent. 



2. Flowers in. slender racemes or spikes. 

 * Leaves alternate. 



18. P. grandiflora, Walt. Pubescent; stems branching ; leaves lanceo- 

 late ; flowers large, crestless, scattered in long racemes ; fruiting pedicels 

 drooping; wings large, orbicular, erect ; caruncle enclosing the stalk of the 

 oblong hairy seed. Varies with smoothish linear leaves, and smaller flowers. 



Dry light soil, Florida to South Carolina and westward. July- Sept. JJ. 

 Stem 1 high. Racemes 3'- 6' long, often lateral by the prolongation of the 

 stem. Flowers bright purple, turning greenish. 



19. P. polygama, Walt. Smooth; stems numerous, simple; leaves 

 oblong-linear, the lowest spatul.ate or obovate ; flowers of two kiuds, one kind 

 showy and perfect, borne in a loose terminal raceme, the other imperfect, 

 but fruiting, in radical (rarely axillary) spikes; wings obovate; caruncle 

 half as long as the obovate very hairy seed. Wet or dry sandy barrens, 

 May -June, (jj) Stems 6'- 12' high, very leafy. Racemes 2' -6' long. 

 Flowers purple. 



20. P. Senega, L. (SEXECA SXAKEROOT.) Stems several from a thick 

 woody root, erect or ascending, simple, or branching above ; leaves numerous, 

 lanceolate, the upper ones acute (!' long); spike cylindrical, peduncled; 

 wings round obovate, as long as the capsule ; lobes of the caruncle linear, as 

 long as the obovate hairy seed. Var. LATIFOLIA, Torr & Gray. Stem 

 taller (1-H); leaves large (2' -4' long), ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute 

 or acuminate at each end. Dry rocky woods in the upper districts; the 

 variety in Tennessee. May -June. ^ Stems 8'- 12' high. Spikes 1'- 

 1 h' long. Flowers greenish white. 



