POLYGALA FAMILY. 115 



i- -*- feel minutely or inconspicuously crested; true petals not longer 

 (mostly shorter) than the wings. 



P. sangulnea, Linn. Stem 4'-8' high, leafy to the top ; leaves oblong- 

 linear ; flowers bright rose-purple (sometimes pale or even white), in a 

 thick, globular at length oblong head or spike, without pedicels. Sandy, 

 damp ground. 



P. fastigiata, Nutt. Slender, 4'-10' high, with smaller narrow-linear 

 leaves, and oblong dense spike of smaller rose-purple flowers on pedicels 

 as long as the pod ; bracts falling off with flowers or fruits. Pine bar- 

 rens from N. J., S. 



P. Nuttllii, Torr. & Gray. Lower than the f oregoing ; flowers rather 

 looser in more cylindrical spikes, greenish-purple ; awl-shaped bracts 

 remaining on the axis after the flowers or fruits have fallen. Sandy 

 soil, coast of Mass., S. and W. 



# * * Annuals with at least the lower leaves in whorls of 4, sometimes in 



5's; spikes terminal; flowers summer and autumn. 



*- Spikes short and thick (4"-9" diameter) ; bracts persisting ; flowers 

 rose or greenish-purple ; crest small. 



P. cruciata, Linn. Stems 3'-10' high, 4-angled, and with spreading 

 branches ; leaves linear or spatulate ; spike nearly sessile ; wings of the 

 flower broad-ovate or heart-shaped, bristle-pointed. Low grounds. 



P. brevif61ia, Nutt. Stems slender; leaves narrower, those on the 

 branches alternate ; spike stalked ; wings of the flower lance-ovate and 

 nearly pointless. Sandy bogs R. I., S. 



*- -i- Spikes slender (2" diameter) ; bracts falling ; flowers (all summer) 

 greenish-white or scarcely tinged with purple, very small. 



P. verticillata, Linn. Stem 6'-10' high, much branched; all the 

 leaves of the main stem whorled. Dry soil, common. 



Var. ambigua, Wats. More slender ; only the lowest leaves whorled ; 

 flowers more scattered and often purplish-tinged, in long-peduncled spikes. 

 N. Y. to Mo. and S. 



* * * * Biennials or annuals ; flowers yellow, some turning green in dry- 

 ing, in dense spikes or heads ; leaves alternate. Growing in low or wet 

 places in pine barrens, S. E. Flowers summer. 



- Short and thick spike or head single ; root leaves clustered. 



P. Ifctea, Linn. YELLOW BACHELOR'S BUTTON of S. Stem 5'-12' 

 high ; lower leaves spatulate or obovate, upper lanceolate ; flowers bright 

 orange. N. J. and S. 



H- (- Numerous short spikes or heads in a cyme. 



P. ram6sa, Ell. Stem 6'-12' high, more branched; lowest leaves 

 obovate or spatulate, upper ones lanceolate ; a caruncle at base of seed. 

 Del. and S. 



P. cym6sa, Walt. Stem l-3 high, branching at top into a compound 

 cyme of spikes ; leaves linear, acute, the uppermost small ; no caruncle 

 to the seed. From Del. S. 



2. Shrubby species of the conservatory, from the Cape of Good Hope. 



P. oppositifdl/a, Linn. Leaves opposite, sessile, heart-shaped and 

 mucronate, of a pale hue ; flowers large and showy purple with a tufted 



P. myrtifdl/a, Linn. Leaves crowded, alternate, oblong or obovate, on 

 short petioles ; showy purple flowers 1' long, with a tufted crest. 



