125 



Order XV. POLYGALE^ (by Prof. Oliver). 



Flowers irregular, hermaphrodite. Sepals 5, free or 2 anterior connate, 2 

 inner {wing-sepals) larger, petaloid, wing-like, rarely subcqual. Petals 3 'or 

 5, declinate, free from each other but usually adherent to tiie starainal sheath, 

 lower petal (carina) concave or galeate. Stamens 8, 5 or 6, raonadelphous', 

 the sheath open above and usually adnate to the base of the petals; anthers 

 1- or 2-celled, opening by a transverse valve or terminal pore. Ovarv 2- 

 celled or 1-celled by abortion or (in Carpolobia) 3-celled. Style simple, 

 often incurved, filiform or variously dilated above ; stigma lobe(i. Fruit a 

 compressed 2-celled capsule dehiscing loculicidally by the margins, baccate 

 and 1-3-celled, or samaroid. Seeds pendulous, frequently strophiolate ; testa 

 often pilose; embryo axile with flattened cotyledons and a short superior 

 radicle, with or without a fleshy albumen.— Herbs shrubs or rarely arbores- 

 cent ; difi'use erect or scandent. Leaves usually alternate, simple, entire, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers racemose capitate or panicjed, bracteate. 



A considerable and widely-spread Order of temperate and tropical countries. 

 Petals 3. Stamens 8 (or 6). Ovary 2-celled. Fruit a compressed 



„ capsule : I POLYGALA. 



Petals 3. Stamens 8. Ovary l-celled by abortion. Fruit a samara . 2. Skcuridaca. 

 Petals 5, nearly equal. Stamens 5. Ovary 3-celled. Fruit drupaceous 3. Carpolobia! 



1. POLYGALA, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Geu. PI. i. 136. 



Flowers irregular. Sepals 5, unequal, free or the 2 anterior connate, 2 

 interior (wing-sepals) much larger, petaloid and wing-like, deciduous or per- 

 sistent. Petals 3, separately adnate to the sheath of stamens ; median petal 

 (carina) usually exceeding the 2 lateral petals, galeate, usually crested on the 

 back, if 5 petals the 2 upper are minute and squamiform. Stamens 8 (or 6), 

 monadelphous, the sheath open above and adherent below to the petals ; " an- 

 thers 1- or 2-celled." Ovary 2.celled with 1 ovule in each cell. Style in- 

 curved above and often dilated ; stigma various. Capsule membranous or 

 coriaceous, compressed, usually emarginate or 2-fid, dehiscing loculicidally at 

 the edges. Seeds usually strophiolate afid pilose, with or without albumen. 

 — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate or fascicled, rarely opposite or verticil- 

 kte. Flowers in terminal or lateral, axillary or extra-axillary racemes or 

 heads, usually rather small, colour various. 



A large genus of temperate and tropical climates in both hemispheres. 30-40 sptiies 

 are peculiar to the Cape Flora. Of the 20 tropical Afric.iu species but 3 appear to 

 be common to India, 3 occur within the limits of tlie Cape Flora, and but 1 is identifi- 

 able with a New "World species. 15 or 16 are coniiued to tropical Africa, and of these but 4 

 occur in both the east and west of the continent, the niajority being western. 

 A. Anterior sepals free. 



* Bracts persistent^ at least it n til expansion of the flow frs. 

 Racemes terminal. 



Wings about \ in.- diam., orbicular, showy. Leaves lintar-lauccolate 



or linear. Pedicels pilose \. P. Gomesiana. 



Wings not exceeding \ in. 



Erect, probably 2-3 ft. Leaves linear. Lateral petals hooked 



or semihastate 2. P. multijlora. 



