194 A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



588. Whorled Milkwort. Poly gala verticillata. More slen- 

 der than the last, but the upper leaves in 4's or 5's and 

 pointed. Flower cluster long stalked, sharp pointed, scarcely 

 ^ in. thick at the base, greenish or purplish. In dry or 

 moist places. Quebec and Ontario to Florida, and westward. 

 August. 



589. Purple Milkwort. Poly gala viridescens. Not unlike 

 No. 587 in having usually rose purple flowers in thick, blunt, 

 short-stalked racemes. But in No. 589 the leaves are all 

 alternate. In fields and meadows. Nova Scotia and Ontario 

 to No. Carolina, and westward. 



590. Seneca Snakeroot. Poly gala Senega. An almost woody 

 perennial with several stems from a single root, 8-15 in. 

 high, rather stiff and erect. Leaves alternate, stalkless, taper- 

 ing both ends, 1-2 in. long, except the lower ones which are 

 much smaller and scale-like. Flowers greenish-white, in a 

 loose, long-stalked spike. In rocky woods. New Brunswick 

 to No. Carolina, and westward, mostly in the uplands. June. 

 Fig. 590. 



591. Gay- WINGS. Poly gala paucifolia. A prostrate plant, 

 wholly unlike all the other Milkworts in habit, with oval, 

 pointed, stalked leaves, clustered irregularly towards the ends 

 of the branches. Plant 6-12 in. long. Leaves 1-13^ in. long, 

 about half as wide, the lower ones much smaller. Flowers 

 showy, I or 2, rarely more, from the leaf joints, rose-purple, 

 beautifully fringed, about ^ in. long. In moist woods. New 

 Brunswick to Georgia and westward. May. Fig. 591. 



592. PEA FAMILY. FABACEAE. (NOS. 593-621.) 



A large and important family of plants, containing a 

 pea, bean, clover, and peanut among its more than 5,000 

 species, found throughout the world. Our species are trees, 

 shrubs, or herbs, and among the wild flowers here included, 

 the leaves are always alternate and compound, except in the 

 Rattle-box, No. 593. Sepals 4 or 5, united to form a usually 

 unequal tube which is sometimes slightly 2-lipped. Petals 

 somewhat united or quite free, with one broad and banner- 



