Polygala.] xvi. roLYGALE^. (A. W. Bennett.) 205 



pubescent, narrow-linear very rarely oUong or narrowed to the base, erect, or subereot 

 margin often thickened or reoirved, midrib strong. Flowers J in. long, few, green' 

 ertict, which gives a remarkable habit to the plant. Capsule as in P. chinensis but 

 usually hairy on the surfaces as well as on the margins. — The erect leaves and flowers 

 seem to afford a good character for this. 



** Bracts caducous (before flowering). Strophiole 3-appendiculate. 



14. P. sibirlca, L. ; stems many slender ascending from a perennial 

 stock, leaves from orbicular to elliptic-lanceolate and linear shining margins 

 often recurved, racemes axillary and extra-axillary sub-erect laxly few- or 

 many-flowered, outer sepals subequal oblong ovate or lanceolate, crest usually 

 large, wings obliquely oblong or obovate obtuse or acute, capsule rather 

 broadly winged glabrous, not ciliate. DC. Prodr. i. 324 ; Ledeb. Ic. t. 448. 

 P. japonica, ifoM«. Syd. 8, t. 62, f. 1 ; DG- I.e. ; Hassk. in Miq. Ann. Mm. i. 

 181. P. vulgaris. Thumb. Fl. Jap. 277 {not of Linn.). P. elegans, Wall. 

 Gat. 4186 ; Hassh. I.e. 176. P. myrsinites, Boyle III. t. 19 A. P. Khasiana', 

 Hassk. I.e. 176. P. monopetala, Camh. in Jacq. Voy. Hot. t. 27 : Folvq sp 

 3, Grif. ; Notul. iv. 337 ; le. PL t. 597. 



Temp, and Subteop. Himalaya, alt. 1-6000 ft. (8000 in Sikkim), from the Punjab 

 and N.W. frontier to Bhotan ; Khasia Mts., alt. 4-6000 ft. ; Nilghiki Mts. (var. 1) • 

 Ceylon (var. 2). — Distrib. China, Japan, Siberia. 



Very variable, but quite distinct from any other Indian species, usually best recog- 

 nised by the' shining reticulate upper surfaces of the elliptic-lanceolate leaves, and 

 slender extra-axillary racemes, rather large (J-J in.) and conspicuous erect flowers ; but 

 all these characters are excessively variable. Stems 3—18 in., pubescent. Leaves i-2 in. 

 Macemes 1-3 in. ; bracts deciduous or persistent. Outer sepals short or long, obtuse 

 acute or acuminate. Wings straight or oblique, membranous or subherbaceous, obtuse 

 or acute, rarely acuminate. Capsules always glabrous, with a broader wing than in 

 F. chinensis. Seeds pilose ; strophiole with usually 3 short appendages. 



Via. ] . Heyneana, Wall. Cat. 4184 (Sp.) ; stouter, leaves linear oblong coriaceous 

 midrib stout, margins usually strongly recurved, wings herbaceous acuminate, appen- 

 dages of the strophiole larger. — W. & A. Prodr. i. 38. Bassk. in Miq. Ann. Mus. i. 

 160. — Pulney and Nilghlri Mts. Obviously a form of P. japonica, from which some 

 specimens are hardly distinguishable. 



Vab. 2. macrolophos, Hassk. in Miq. Ann. Mus. i. 167 {Sp.); stems 1-2 ft. very 

 slender, leaves l-l|ih. broadly elliptic or lanceolate subacute flat, nerves obscure, outer 

 sepals acuminate, wings herbaceous. P. glomerata an(? pedunculosa, Thwaites Enum. 

 iOi> {not of Lour.). Ceylon, Adam's Peak, &o., alt. 4^7000 ft. — A very large form, 

 quite unlike the usual states. 



15. P. telepbioides, Willd. Sp. PI. iii. 876 ; annual, stems prostrate 

 short leafy, leaves small glabrous often imbricate very thick obovate or 

 oblong obtuse or acute, flowers very small fascicled on very short extra- 

 axillary peduncles, outer sepals acute, wings herbaceous oblique acuminate, 

 capsule glabrous margined not ciliate. DC. Prodr. i. 332 ; W. d; A. Prodr. 

 i. 36? P. serpyllifolia, Poi/r. Diet. v. 499; DC. I.e. 326. P. buxiformis, 

 EassL in Miq. Mm. Bot. i. 161. 



Western Peninsula, Camatic, and Travancor ; Ceylon. — Distrib. Indian Archi- 

 pelago, China, Philippines. 



Stems very many from an annual woody root, not exceeding 2—4 in. high in our numerous 

 specimens from various collectors ; pubescent. Leaves sessile, ^-| in., margins usually 

 recurved. Flowers ^r !"■ long. Capsule -j^ in. long and broad, deeply notched, valves 

 margined. Seeds minute, silky; strophiole minutely appendaged. — A very distinct 

 species, easily recognised by its dwarf stature, the thick short leaves, small flowers and 

 ttuit, and glabrous small capsule that is not winged.- 



