Order 14. Polygalece. 21 



ORDER 14. POLYGALE^l. Milkworts. 



Leaves alternate simple entire, flowers very irregular, sepals 

 5, the two inner (wings) like petals : petals 3 unequal, the 

 largest keel-shaped (keel) ; stamens 4 to 8 united into a sheath ; 

 capsule 2-celled, 2-seeded, frequently margined. 



The shape of the flowers distinguishes this order from every other. 

 They have a superficial resemblance to those of the pea family, but 

 here the wings belong to the calyx. All the species found in W. 

 India (as in England) are small herbs, and would be easily recog- 

 nized by any one who knows the common English milkwort, P. 

 vulgaris. 



1. POLYGALA. Wings larger than the other sepals, petals 

 united at the base with the staminal tube, which is split ; keel 

 generally crested ; stamens 8. 



3. SALOMONIA. Flowers minute in dense spikes ; sepals 

 nearly equal ; stamens 4 or 5, united half way down into a 

 sheath. 



1. POLYGALA. 



1. P. elongata. Erect, branched, 4 or 5 inches high, leaves 

 linear or oblong, smooth, flowers in racemes yellow, wings 

 obliquely oval, longer than the capsule, which is nearly round 

 and notched. 



E. includes in this D.'s P. campestris. 

 The Konkans. Coast of Katty war (Z>.). 



2. P. Chinensis. Generally procumbent ; leaves from roundish 

 to narrow linear, flowers yellow in short racemes, wings large 

 pointed, longer than the roundish notched capsule. Negli. 



Guzerat, Deccan, &c. H. makes this most variable, includes in 

 it three others of D.'s species, and ascribes it to the whole of India. 



* P. per si carice folia is called by Mr. Birdwood the Mahableshwar 

 milkwort' erect, branched, leaves oval or oblong, flowers rose-colour, 

 wings obovate, capsule obcordate, ciliate. Highest Ghauts (D.). 



* P. erioptera (P. vahliana, D.) flowers yellow, wings longer than 

 the notched capsule, seeds very hairy. Guzerat (D.). Very variable (H.). 



2. SALOMONIA. 



* S. ciliata (8. cordata, D.), 3 to 6 inches high, leaves 

 sessile, cordate ovate ; flowers red or purple, capsule with red 

 filiform teeth, broader than long. Bhui sdna. 



Vingorla (D.). N. Konkan (.). Katty war and Sholapore, Mr. 

 Jyekriehna Indraji. 



