MILK WORT FAMILY. Polygalacese. 



_._ ^ The tiny aesthetic, dull crimson flowers 



MHkwort . ,. . . . 



Polygala of tnis s P ecies are borne in delicate long 



polygama clusters at the tips of the leafy stems. The 



Dull crimson leaves are light dull green, lance-shaped, 

 June-July an( j crow ded on the slender stem, tooth- 

 less, and rather blunt, with a bristlelike tip. Rarely the 

 flowers are nearly white ; the eight stamens are more or 

 less conspicuous. The plant also bears cleistogamous 

 flowers on subterranean horizontal branches, and these 

 are numerous enough to justify the specific title, poly- 

 gama. 5-15 inches high. Dry sandy soil common 

 everywhere, but locally abundant only. 

 _ A much less showy species with white 



Snakeroot or greenish white flowers and fewer lance- 

 Polygala shaped leaves, the lowest ones very small 



Senega and scalelike. The small terminal flower- 



White or cluster dense. It bears no cleistogamous 



greenish white blossoms> Stem 6 _ 13 inches high, simple 

 May-June 



or slightly branched. In rocky woodlands, 



from western New Eng., south to N. Car., among the 

 mountains, and west to Minn, and Mo. 



A branching and leafy species with 

 Polygala 

 san g U i nea globular or oblong, compact flower-clus- 



Magenta ters of deep or pale magenta blossoms ; 



June- rarely they are white. .It is the calyx 



September which contributes the ruddy magenta to 

 the flower ; the yellowish petals are hidden within. 

 The stem is slightly angled. The little leaves are similar 

 to those of P. polygama. 6-12 inches high. In moist 

 and sandy fields and roadsides, New Eng., south to S. 

 Car., and west to Minn., Ark., and La. 



A southern species with a slender stem 

 mariana much branched at maturity, and small, 



Magenta narrow, linear leaves. Flower spikes nearly 



July-Septem= globular, the flowers light magenta. 

 k er Bracts deciduous. 6-15 inches high. In 



pine barrens and dry sandy soil, N. J. south, and south- 

 west to Tex. 



242 



