VOI,. II.] 



MILKWORT FAMILY. 



4. Polygala cruciata L. Cross-leaved or Marsh Milkwort. 

 Polygala cruciata L. Sp. PI. 706. 1753- 



Erect, glabrous, 4 / -i6 / high, at length freely 

 branching above; stem square or slightly wing-an- 

 gled. Basal leaves none; those of the stem and 

 branches verticillate in 4's, or a few of them scat- 

 tered, linear or oblanceolate, >^ / -i^ / long, \"-i" 

 wide, entire, obtuse, mucronulate, the lower smaller; 

 spike-like racemes oval, obtuse, 4 // ~9 // thick, ses- 

 sile or short-peduncled; pedicels slender, i^ // -2 // 

 long; bracts persistent; flowers purple, greenish or 

 white; wings triangular-ovate, sessile, somewhat 

 cordate, acute, acuminate or awn-pointed, i^ // ~3 // 

 long, much exceeding the pods; crest of the corolla 

 minute; seed oblong, slightly hairy, about equalling 

 the caruncle. 



In sandy swamps, Maine to Florida, west to Minne- 

 sota and Louisiana, but wanting in some districts in 

 the interior, quite common along the coast. July- Sept. 



357 

 (Fig. 2276.) 



5. Polygala brevifolia Nutt. Short- 

 leaved Milkwort. (Fig. 2277.) 



Polygala brevifolia Nutt. Gen. 2: 89. 1818. 



Resembling the preceding species, but lower, 

 more slender and weaker. Leaves shorter, often 

 scattered on the branches and upper part of the 

 stem; spikes smaller (3 // -5 // thick), on slender 

 peduncles; wings ovate or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse 

 or mucronulate. 



In sandy swamps, coast of Rhode Island to Florida 

 and Alabama. Summer. 



6. Polygala verticillata L,. Whorled Milkwort. (Fig. 2278.) 



Polygala veriicillata L,. Sp. PI. 706. 1753. 



Glabrous, very slender, 6 / -i2 / high, usually 

 branched, the branches often opposite. Basal 

 leaves none; stem-leaves linear, $"-15" long, 

 ^//_ 2 // w ide; acute, entire, punctate, mucronu- 

 late, mostly verticillate in 4's or 5's, with some 

 scattered ones on the stem or branches; spikes 

 conic, loug-peduncled, acute, 2" thick at the 

 base, very dense, 4 // -io // long; flowers greenish 

 or purplish; pedicels about y 2 ' f long; wings 

 broadly oval, distinctly clawed, shorter than the 

 pod; crest of the corolla manifest; seed oblong, 

 hairy, twice the length of the caruncle; bracts 

 deciduous. 



In dry or moist soil, mostly in fields, southern 

 Quebec and Ontario to Minnesota, south to Florida 

 and Mexico. Ascends to 2500 ft. in Virginia. 

 June. -Nov. 



