44 POLYGALACE^. 



1. S. cantoniensis. Lour. ; DC. Prod. i. 334. An erect or spreading 

 glabrous annual, 3 to 6 in. high. Leaves on very short stalks, broadly cor- 

 date or orbicular, the largest about half an inch diameter, but most of them 

 much smaller. Flowers pink, scarcely a line long, in terminal leafless racemes 

 or loose spikes about an inch long. Capsule abont a line broad, but not so 

 long, flattened, didymous, bordered with a fringe of hairs or slender teeth. 



lu marshy fields, Champion and others. Extends from S. China to the hiUy districts of 

 northern and eastern India. 



2. S. oblongifolia, DC. Prod. i. 334. A slender glabrous annual like 

 the last, but usually rather smaller and less branched. Leaves sessile, the 

 larger ones oblong, 3 to 4 lines long and scarcely above 1 broad ; the lower 

 ones smaller and ovate. Flow^ers and capsules like those of S. cantoniemis ; 

 the spikes usually rather more slender. — S. obovata, Wight, lUustr. t. 22. 



In fields, Hance. Common in the warmer districts of India, from Ceylon and the Penin- 

 sula to the Archipelago and the Philippine Islands. 



2. POLYGALA, Linn. 



Sepals 3 outer small, 2 inner much larger, erect and petal-like. Petals 2 

 upper ones narrow and connivent, 2 lateral ones very small or wanting, the 

 lowest or keel larger than the others, concave, hooded, and either 3-lobed or 

 crested at the top. Stamens united above the middle, with 8 anthers. Ovary 

 2-celled, with 1 ovule in each. Style either dilated at the top with a lateral 

 stigma, or with 2 or 4 short stigmatic lobes. Capsule flat, thin or rarely co- 

 riaceous, orbicular, obovate, or elliptical, opening at the edges. — Herbs, un- 

 dershrubs, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, or in a very few species opposite. 

 Eacemes or spikes terminal or lateral, sometimes reduced to clusters, rarely 

 paniculate. 



A large genus, ranging over the whole area of the Order, excepting Australia. 



Annual. Leaves obtuse. Flowers pink and green, in short sessile clusters 1. P. gJomerata. 

 Perennial. Upper leaves acute. Flowers pink and green, in short racemes 2, P. elegans. 

 Tall half-climbing shrub. Flowers large, yellow, in long racemes . . 3. P. arillata. 



1. P. glomerata. Lour. ; Miq. PI. Ned. Pnd. i. part ii. 125. A decum- 

 bent or ascending pubescent annual, branched only near the base, and attaining 

 1 to ]|- ft. in length. Leaves from broadly ovate to oblong, or the upper ones 

 very narrow, 1 to 1|- or even 2 in. long, all obtuse. Flowers inconspicuous, 

 green or slightly pink, crowded in short axillary or lateral racemes, usually 

 reduced to almost capitate clusters. Wings (or inner sepals) oblong-falcate, 

 about 2 lines long, very acute, or shortly aristate. Keel-petal cristate. Cap- 

 sules about 3 lines broad, and not so long, didymous, ciliate or hispid round 

 the edge. 



Hongkong, Champion, IFright. Common in the moist rich soils of eastern India and the 

 Archipelago, and perhaps only a luxiu-iant variety of the widely spread P. arvensis. 



2. P. elegans, Wall. ; Royle, Illustr. 76, t. 11,/. A. {P. mp'siniies on 

 the plate). Stems ascending, branched at the base, and attaining from 6 in. 

 to 1^ ft. in height, much as in the last, but proceeding from a perennial al- 

 most woody stock, and the plant is scarcely pubescent. Lower leaves ovate 

 and small; the upper ones lanceolate, acute, 1 to 1| in. long. Flowers larger 

 than in the last, greenish, with pink tips, in rather loose but short terminal or 



