MILKWORT FAMILY. Polygalaceas 



An attractive species whose leaves are 

 generally arranged in clusters of four — 

 hence the specific title, crnciata. Stem 

 square or almost winged at the angles, 

 widely branched, and smooth. The deli- 

 cate dull magenta flowers in heads like 

 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 

 with a slenderer stem and shorter leaves 

 more sparingly distributed. The flower- 

 spikes much smaller and the flowers 

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

 Polygala, common on the borders of brack- 

 ish swamps, from R. I., Long Island, N. 

 J,, and Del., south, 



A slender and smooth species with usu- 

 ally many branches, and with long slender 

 lance-shaped leaves tipped with a slight 

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

 tered singly among the branches. The 

 greenish white or magenta-tinged flowers 

 are compactly clustered in conic spikes, 

 nearly an inch long. The little florets are 

 distinctly stemmed. A 11 the Polygalas are 

 assisted in the process of fertilization by the bees and 

 some of the smaller butterflies, notably Colias j^hilodice, 

 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 magenta. In dry soil, N. Y., 

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

 and La. 



Cross-leaved 

 Milkwort 



PoJygald 

 cruciatd 

 Dull magenta 

 pink 

 July- 

 September 



Short-leaved 

 Milkwort 



Polygala 

 brevifolia 



pink 

 June- 

 September 



Whorled 

 Milkwort 



Polygala 

 verticillata 

 Magenta- 

 tinged or 

 whitish 

 June- 

 September 



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