Polygalee—Polygala. 61 
Orver XV.—POLYGALEZ:. 
Herbs or undershrubs, often climbing or trailing. Leaves 
alternate, rarely opposite, exstipulate, simple, and usually 
entire. Flowers hermaphrodite, irregular, solitary, spicate or 
racemose. Sepals 5, free, imbricated, the two innermost larger, 
petaloid. Petals 3 or 5, hypogynous; the 2 outer free, or 
united with the hooded lower one forming a tube split at the 
posterior base, the 2 inner equal or smaller orabsent. Stamens 
8; filaments connate in a tube, and united with the petals 
below. Capsule 2-celled, compressed, dehiscing loculicidally. 
Seeds pendulous, hairy or glabrous, often strophiolate, with or 
without albumen. 
1. POLYGALA. 
The character as above. A genus of nearly 200 species, dis- 
persed nearly all over the world. The hardy species are not 
numerous, and by no means so showy as many of the tenderer 
kinds from the Cape of Good Hope. Name from zrodvs, much, 
and yé@Aa, milk. This is variously explained. 
1. P. vulgaris. Common Milkwort.—An indigenous and 
very variable species according to soil and situation. Under 
cultivation the numerous slender prostrate or erect stems usually 
grow about a foot long. Jueaves small, oblong or lanceolate, 
glabrous. Flowers about 4 to6 lines long, in terminal racemes, 
blue, lilac, purple, pink, or white. 
2. P. Chamebiiwus.—A larger handsomer shrubby plant. 
Leaves small, ovate, coriaceous, persistent. Flowers fragrant, 
yellow and cream. A native of Switzerland and Austria. May 
to July. 
Oxper XVI.—FRANKENIACEZ. 
A small group of erect or trailing littoral and desert plants 
with very small opposite leaves and small flowers. They differ 
technically from the gamosepalous Caryophgllee in having 
parietal placentas. 
1. FRANKENIA. 
The only genus of the family, consisting of about twelve 
species. Named in honour of a Swedish botanist. 
