MILKWORT FAMILY. Polygalacea 



An attractive species whose leaves are 



Cross-leaved generally arranged in clusters of four 

 JVlilkwort . ,.,, . , ^ A 



Folygala hence the specific title, cruciata. Stem 



crudata square or almost winged at the angles, 



Dull magenta- widely branched, and smooth. The deli- 

 pink cate dull magenta flowers in heads like 



Se tember clover bloom, with the florets crowded. 

 3-13 inches high. Margins of swamps, or 

 low ground, from Me., south, and west to Minn, and La. 

 A species very similar to the last, but 

 Short-leaved with a s i en( j erer stem an( } shorter leaves 

 Milkwort . . ,. , .. , ., m . _ 



Poly gala more sparingly distributed. The flower- 



brevifolia spikes much smaller and the flowers 



Dull magenta- stemmed. 3-10 inches high. A coastwise 

 pmk Polygala, common on the borders of brack- 



September * sn swam P s > from R. L, Long Island, N. 



J., and Del., south. 



A slender and smooth species with usu- 

 Whorled a iiy many branches, and with long slender 



lance-shaped leaves tipped with a slight 

 verticillata bristle, arranged in circles of 4-5, or scat- 

 Magenta- tered singly among the branches. The 

 tinged or greenish w^hite or magenta- tinged flowers 



are compactly clustered in conic spikes, 

 September nearly an inch long. The little florets are 



distinctly stemmed. All the Poly galas are 

 assisted in the process of fertilization by the bees and 

 some of the smaller butterflies, notably Colias philodice, 

 yellow. 6-12 inches high. Common everywhere in 

 fields or on roadsides. The var. ambigua is nearly the 

 same in structure, but is taller, slenderer, and only the 

 lower leaves are in circles ; the others are alternate. 

 The flower-spikes are very long and loose, some of the 

 lower flowers being isolated ; the blossoms are a trifle 

 larger, and mostly a pale ma,genta. In dry soil, N. Y., 

 N. J., and Pa., south to Ga., and southwest to Tenn. 

 and La. 



244 



