MILKWORT FAMILY. Polygalacese 



An attractive species whose leaves are 

 generally arranged in clusters of four — 

 hence the specific title, cruciata. Stem 

 square or almost winged at the angles, 

 widely branched, and smooth. The deli- 

 cate dull magenta flowers in heads like 

 clover bloom, with the florets crowded. 

 3-13 inches high. Margins of swamps, or 

 low ground, from Me., south, and west to Minn, and La. 

 A species very similar to the last, but 

 with a slenderer stem and shorter leaves 

 more sparingly distributed. The flower- 

 spikes much smaller and the flowers 

 stemmed. 3-10 inches high. A coastwise 

 Polygala, common on the borders of brack- 

 ish swamps, from R. I., Long Island, N. 

 J., and Del., south. 



A slender and smooth species with usu- 

 ally many branches, and with long slender 

 lance-shaped leaves tipped with a slight 

 bristle, arranged in circles of 4-5, or scat- 

 tered singly among the branches. The 

 greenish white or magenta-tinged flowers 

 are compactly clustered in conic spikes, 

 nearly an inch long. The little florets are 

 distinctly stemmed. All the Polygalas are 

 assisted in the process of fertilization by the bees and 

 some of the smaller butterflies, notably Colias philodice, 

 yellow. 6-12 inches high. Common everywhere in 

 fields or on roadsides. The var. ambigua is nearly the 

 same in structure, but is taller, slenderer, and only the 

 lower leaves are in circles ; the others are alternate. 

 The flower-spikes are very long and loose, some of the 

 lower flowers being isolated ; the blossoms are a trifle 

 larger, and mostly a pale magenta. In dry soil, N. Y., 

 N. J., and Pa., south to Ga., and southwest to Tenn 

 and La. 



Cross-leaved 

 Milkwort 

 Polygala 

 cruciata 

 Dull magenta- 

 pink 

 July- 

 September 



Short-leaved 

 Milkwort 



Polygala 

 brevifolia 

 Dull magenta 

 pink 

 June- 

 September 



Whorled 

 Milkwort 

 Polygala 

 verticillata 

 Magenta- 

 tinged or 

 whitish 

 June- 

 September 



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