MILKWORT FAMILY. Polygalacex. 



Milkwort 



Polygala 

 polygama 

 Dull crimson 

 June-July 



The tiny aesthetic, dull crimson flowers 

 of this species are borne in delicate long 

 clusters at the tips of the leafy stems. The 

 leaves are light dull green, lance-shaped, 

 and crowded on the slender stem, tooth- 

 less, and rather blunt, with a bristlelike tip. Rarely the 

 flowers are nearly white ; the eight stamens are more or 

 less conspicuous. The plant also bears cleistogamous 

 flowers on subterranean horizontal branches, and these 

 are numerous enough to justify the specific title, poly- 

 gama. 5-15 inches high. Dry sandy soil common 

 everywhere, but locally abundant only. 



A much less showy species with white 

 or greenish white flowers and fewer lance- 

 shaped leaves, the lowest ones very small 

 and scalelike. The small terminal flower- 

 cluster dense. It bears no cleistogamous 

 Ma en junr hlte blossoms. Stem 6-12 inches high, simple 

 or slightly branched. In rocky woodlands, 

 from western New Eng., south to N. Car., among the 

 mountains, and west to Minn, and Mo. 



A branching and leafy species with 

 globular or oblong, compact flower-clus- 

 ters of deep or pale magenta blossoms ; 

 rarely they are white. It is the calyx 

 which contributes the ruddy magenta to 

 the flower ; the yellowish petals are hidden within. 

 The stem is slightly angled. The little leaves are similar 

 to.those of P. polygama. 6-12 inches high. In moist 

 and sandy fields and roadsides, New Eng., south to S. 

 Car., and west to Minn., Ark., and La. 



Seneca 

 Snakeroot 



Polygala 

 Senega 

 White or 



Polygala 

 sanguinea 

 Magenta 

 June- 

 September 



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