Ord. POLYGALACE^. 



Herbse vel fratices, foliis integerrimis exstipulatis : dicoty- 

 ledonese, hypogynae, hermaphroditas, asymmetricse, irregula- 

 res, quasi papilionacece, niotio - diadelphcB corolla mediante, 

 tubo stamineo subgamopetala postice fissa ; antheris imi- 

 locularihus poro apicis apertis ; ovario 2-locula}'i, loculis 

 uniovulatis ; seminibiis ssepe carunculatis ; embryone recto 

 in albumine parco, cotyledonibus plano-convexis, radicula 

 supera. 



PoLYGALE^, Juss. in Ann, Mus. 14. p. 386. R. Br. in Flind. Voy. 2. p. 



543. DC. Prodr. 1. p. 321. St. Hil. & Moq.-Tand. in Mem. 



Mus. 17. p. 313. Endl. Gen. p. 1077. 

 PoLYGALACE^, Lindl. Introd. Syst. Nat., ed. 2. p. 84, & Veg. Kingd. p. 



37.5. 



The Milkwort Family consists of the large genus Polygala, with five or 

 six small genera which exhibit the same peculiar structure and quasi pa- 

 pilionaceous appearance of the flower. The structure, however, is essen- 

 tially different from that of the true papilionaceous corolla. The latter con- 

 sists of five petals; one posterior, the vexillum, two lateral, the wings, and 

 two anterior, more or less coherent, forming the keel. Of the sepals, ac- 

 cordingly, one is directly anterior and two are posterior. The Polygalaceous 

 flower is differently situated as to the position of the sepals and petals in re- 

 spect to the axis of inflorescence, having the second sepal next the axis, 

 after the more usual manner, and the first and third approximated on the 

 anterior side of the flower ; while the two lateral sepals, enlarged and peta- 

 loid, seem at first sight to belong to the corolla, and, appearing like the wings 

 of the papilionaceous corolla, have received the same name. The corolla it- 

 self consists normally of five petals, two of which are necessarily posterior, 

 one anterior, and two lateral ; but the lateral are commonly minute or alto- 

 gether abortive, and the two posterior are more or less combined anteriorly 

 with the lower petal (which is saccate above and often crested), by means of 

 their adhesion to the united filaments. The stamens arc commonly mona- 

 delphous, with the tube open posteriorly, and often more or less cleft in the 

 middle anteriorly, so as to divide the stamens equally into two phalanges, of 



