A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



583. Flowers irregular and unsymmetrical, but not spurred. 

 (Nos. 584-621.) 



Leaves compound (except in no, 593) ; flowers pea-like (see 

 Fig. 593-621 ) Pea Family no. 592 



Leaves all simple Milkworts no. 584 



584. MILKWORTS. POLYGALA. 



Mostly slender herbs with opposite, alternate or clustered, 

 always simple and toothless leaves. Flowers in various kinds 

 of clusters, or nearly solitary in one species. Sepals 5, 2 of 

 them larger and colored, the others smaller. Petals 3 or 5, 

 more or less united into a tube, one of them often crested 

 or fringed. Fruit a small dry pod. (Polygalaccac.) 



Flowers yellow Orange Milkwort no. 585 



Flowers not yellow. 

 Flowers in spikes or racemes. 



Individual flowers on recurved stalklets 



Bitter Milkwort no. 586 



Individual flowers on erect stalklets, or in tight spikes 



All the lower leaves clustered in fours 



Marsh Milkwort no. 587 



Leaves clustered and alternate. . .Whorled Milkwort no. 588 

 Leaves all alternate. 



Spikes blunt ; flowers rose purple 



Purple Milkwort no. 589 



