rOLYGALA — MILKWOUT. l'2d 



occasionally tinpjod witli red. Loaves nnmerons, alternate, lanceolate or 

 obloiig-liinceoliito, 1 to 2 inclies Ion},', with rou};h nuirgius. ilowers in 

 dense spikes, 1 to 1| inch lon<if, appearing in May and June. 



Ildhilal. — In dry, rocky woods from "Western New England to North 

 Carolina and Avestward ; most abundant in the South and AVest. 



Polygala polygama AValter (/'. jv(te//a Willdenow). — liUU'.r Pohjgala. 



Jk'.-^crip'inii. — Calyx : wings broadly obovate, spreading, longer llian the 

 petals. Corolla : keel conspicuously crested. Capsule ()l)loiig, eniarginate. 



A small biennial. Stems numerous, mostly simple, leafy, (i to i* inches 

 high. Leaves alternate, oblanceolate or oblong, 1 inch long. Flowers in 

 terminal racemes, deep rose-color or puiplish. There are also produced 

 radical racemes of inconspicuous but fertile flowers, which are prostrate 

 upon the ground, or subterranean. 



JIahUal. — Dry, sandy soil from Canada to Florida and westward. Very 

 common. 



J'arta Uacd. — The root of P. Senega is ofTicial under the name of senega 

 — United States Fhannaevixvia. Both the root and \\Gvh oi 1\ polijgama 

 (P. 1-nhella) were formerly ofKcial, but have been discarded. 



C'o)i.tlifucnfs. — Senega has a peculiar odor, and a tastes which is, at first, 

 sweetish but afterward pungent and acrid. Its most important constitu- 

 ent is a peculiar acrid principle termed senecjUi, or pulijijulic acid, which is 

 believed to be closely analogous to saponin, a principle existing in Sapon- 

 aria olfivinalia and Quillaia bark. From P. polygama (P. rubella) has been 

 obtained a crystalline compound termed piihi'iahwmrin, which has a very 

 bitter taste, and foams considerably when agitated with water, in this re- 

 spect resembling saponin. 



IWparationH. — Of senega : Abstractum senegre — abstract of senega ; ex- 

 tractum senegic fluidum — lluid extract of senega' ; syrupus scnegic — syrup 

 of senega ; a constituent of syrupus scilla; con)positus — compound syrup of 

 squill. — Culled Sidles Phar)iia(yp(eia. Of P. i)olygama there are no olliciul 

 preparations. Both species yield their virtues to water and to diluted 

 alcohol. 



JlFedical Properties and Uses. — Senega in small or medium doses is dia- 

 phoretic, diuretic, and expectorant ; in largo doses, emetic and cathartic. 

 In practice it is cliiefly used as a stimulating expectorant in the later 

 stages of bronchial and inilmonary alTections after active inllanuuatory 

 symptoms have been subdued. Its emetic and purgative action has been 

 foiuid useful in rheumatism and dropsy, but other agents ai'e more eligible. 

 It has also some reputation as an emmenagogue. 



Of P. polygama there is little to be said. It is believed to jjossess prop- 

 erties similar to those of /•'. ainara of Europe, but as this plant is no 

 longer oIKcial there its properties cannot be considered of much value. 

 All species of the genus are more or less bitter, and probably possess, if 

 nothing else, mild toDic properties. 

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