MILKWORT TRIBE 35 



chaffy. An exceedingly curious little plant, 2-6 inches high, 

 growing in bogs. The root is small and fibrous, and takes a very 

 slight hold on the ground ; the leaves are densely covered with 

 red hairs, each of which is tipped with a drop of viscid fluid ; from 

 the centre of the tuft of leaves rises a wiry leafless stalk, bearing 

 several small whitish flowers, which only expand in sunny weather ; 

 the flowers are all on the same side of the stalk, which in its early 

 stage is curled up, and gradually uncoils itself as the flowers sever- 

 ally expand. Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



2. D. longifolia (Long-leaved Sundew). Leaves all from the root, 

 erect, elongated, broad at the extremity, and tapering towards the 

 base ; leaf-stalks smooth ; seeds with a rough, not chaffy coat. 

 Smaller than the last, and, like it, growing in boggy places, but 

 not so frequent. Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



3. D. Anglica (Great Sundew). Leaves all from the roots, erect, 

 long and narrow, on very long smooth stalks ; seeds with a loose 

 chaffy coat. Much like the last, and growing in similar situations, 

 but is stouter and taller and has longer leaves. Rare. Fl. July, 

 August. Perennial. 



Natural Order XI 

 POLYGALACE^E. The Milkwort Tribe 



Sepals 5, the two inner larger, generally petal-like ; petals 3-5, 

 unequal, more or less combined with the filaments ; stamens 8, 

 in two equal sets ; anthers i-celled, opening by pores at the summit ; 

 pistil 1 ; capsule 1-3-celled ; seeds pendulous. An extensive tribe 

 of herbaceous or shrubby plants, with clustered, often showy flowers. 

 Many are bitter, and their roots are milky. Medicinally they are 

 said to be useful in affections of the lungs, and to excite perspiration. 

 The most celebrated is a North American herb, Polygala senega 

 (Snake-root), to which extraordinary virtues are ascribed. Several 

 species are said to cure snake bites. Krameria (Rhatany-root) is 

 astringent, and furnishes a red infusion, used to adulterate port 

 wine. Some of the above properties, but in a less degree, reside 

 in the only British genus, Polygala. 



1. Polygala (Milkwort). Sepals 5, the two inner coloured, 

 wing-shaped ; petals combined with the filaments, the lower one 

 keeled ; capsule flattened, 2-celled, 2-valved ; seeds downy, crested 

 at the base. (Name from the Greek, signifying much milk, the juice 

 of the root being milky ; or perhaps from the belief that it increased 

 the milk- yield of cows which ate it.) 



1. Polygala {Milkwort) 

 1. P. vulgaris (Common Milkwort). Lower petal crested in a 

 starlike manner ; calyx-wings about equal in length to the corolla ; 



