174 XVI. POLYGALACE^E. POLYGALA, 



long spikes ; calydne wings obovate. (D An erect plant, 6 12' high, found in 

 meadows and wet grounds, Mass, to La., and known at once by its short, red- 

 dish, cylindric spike of flowers. Stem angular, with fastigiate branches, each 

 ending in a smaller spike than that of the main stem, but rising above it in 

 height. Flowers purple, caducous. Jl. Oct. 



2. P. NUTTALLII. T. & G. (P. sanguinea. Nutt.) NuttaWs Polygala. 



St. erect, somewhat fastigiate ; Ivs. linear ; spikes rather loose, ovoid-glo- 

 bose ; calydne wings elliptic-obovate, attenuate at base, twice longer than the 

 fruit; crest minute. Martha's Vineyard, Oakes. R. I. Olney! to La. Stem 

 6 10' high. Leaves 6 8" by 12", acute. Spikes 5 10" long, 46" diam. 

 Wings of the calyx rose-red. Seeds black. Aug. 



3. P. CRUCIATA. Cross-leaved Polygala. 



St. erect, somewhat fastigiate, winged at the angles ; Ivs. verticillate in 

 4s, linear-oblong, punctate, spikes ovate, dense, obtuse, sessile or nearly so ; 

 crest minute. (f) In sphagnous swamps and other low grounds. Stem 312' 

 high, very slender, smooth, slightly winged at the 4 angles. Leaves 2 10" or 

 more long, 1 2" wide (upper ones the largest), obtuse, tapering to the base, 

 with small, resinous dots. Spikes capitate, about the size of the last. Wings 

 of calyx greenish-purple, much dilated at apex. Aug. 



4. P. LTJTEA. Yellow Polygala. 



St. simple or branching ; root Ivs. spatulate, obtuse, attenuate at base, 

 cauline ones lanceolate, acute ; rac. ovate, obtuse, dense ; fls. pedicellate ; wings 

 ovate, mucronate ; keel with a minute crest. (g) Sandy plains, N. J. to Flor. 

 Stem 8 12' high, generally with a few long spreading branches. Flowers 

 bright yellow, longer than the bracts. Style dilated in the middle and with a 

 stipitate gland. Jn. Oct. 



5. P. INCARNATA. Flesh-colored Milkwort. 



Glaucous; st. erect, slender, mostly simple; Ivs. few, scattered, linear- 

 subulate; spike oblong, terminal ; wings lanceolate, cuspidate ; claws of the petals 

 united into a long, cleft tube. @) Dry soils N. J. to Flor. W. to Ark. Stem 

 1 2fhigh. Leaves 4 6" long, remote. Spikes 1 lj' long. F]owers pale 

 rose-color or flesh-color. The slender corolla tube nearly twice as long as the 

 wings, the keel with a conspicuous crest. Jn. Jl. 



* * Spikes elongated or racemose. 



6. P. VERTICILLATA. Whorl-leaved Polygala. 



St. branched, erect ; Ivs. linear, verticillate ; spikes linear, stalked ; fls. 

 alternate, crested ; calydne wings roundish. Found on dry hills, U. S. and 

 Can. Stem very slender, square, 6 8' high. Leaves in whorls ol 5 or 6, 

 4 10" long, V wide, alternate on the branches. Flowers small, greenish- 

 white, in very slender racemes 5 10" long, which are higher upon the branches 

 than upon the main stem. Jl. Oct. 



7. P. AMBIGUA. Nutt. Dubious Polygala. 



St. erect, with virgate branches ; Ivs. linear, lower ones verticillate, upper 

 alternate ; spikes dense, on long peduncles ; calydne wings roundish. (J) Dry 

 fields and woods, Mass, to Va. Stem 9 15' high, angular, smooth, much 

 branched. Leaves sessile, tapering to the base, 4 10" by 1". Racemes spicate, 

 acute, about 1' long, 20 30-flowered, on peduncles 1 2' long. Flowers 

 small, greenish-white, tinged with purple. Jl. Nearly allied to P. verticillata. 



8. P. SENEGA. Seneca Snake-root. 



St. erect, smooth, simple, leafy ; Ivs. alternate, lanceolate, tapering at 

 each end ; fls. slightly crested, in a terminal, spike-lbrm, slender raceme. % 

 Woods, Western States, rare in Eastern. Root ligneous, branched, contorted, 

 about J' thick, ash-colored. Stems 8 14' high, several from the same root. 

 Leaves 1 3' long, as wide, numerous, scattered. Flowers white, in a filiform 

 spike 1 3' long. Sepals obtuse, larger than the petals. The root has a sweet- 

 ish, nauseous taste, soon becoming pungent and hot. Jl. A valuable stimu- 

 lating expectorant. 



9. P. POLYGAMA. Walt. (P. rubella. WUld.} Bitter Polygala. 



Ste. simple, numerous; Ivs. linear, oblong, mucronate, alternate below; 



