MILKWORT FAMILY. 



POLYGALACE^. 



Flowering Wintergreen. Polygala paudfolia. 



Fringed Polygala. 



Found in light woods during May. 



The single stalk is flattened beneath the leaf, from 3 to 5 inches 

 in height, and slender. It is smooth, and sti'ongly tinted with purple, 

 even with ci'imson, at the foot. 



The lower leaves are small, clasping, and alternate ; the upper are 

 on stems, and form a terminal cluster of 4 or 5 around the flowers, — 

 they are oval, with an entire margin, and a thick texture, smooth, and 

 glossy green. 



The irregular-shaped flower^ like a gayly colored fly, has a very 

 delicate and fine texture, and is of an exquisite clear crimson tint, the 

 one fringed petal being white, tinged with a light yellow-green. From 

 1 to 3 flowers, on their green stems, form a terminal clustei'. 



These flowers are the idle beauties of the plant ; the unnoted 

 homely Cinderella flower, very small, misshapen, and dull, that sits 

 down in the dust on a little side-stem close to the root, bears the seeds. 

 The leaves last over winter, turning a rich crimson-bronze hue, almost 

 as brilliant as the flowers ; the fresh leaves are simultaneous in growth 

 with the blossoms, unfolding as the buds swell. White varieties are 

 occasionally found. 



