BURSAEIA 



MILKWOBT OBDEB 



POLYGALA 237 



flowers produced during the summer 

 months. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



P. undulatum. — An ornamental Aus- 

 tralian shrub 6-10 ft. high with oval lance- 

 shaped, wavy, deep green, and rather 

 leathery leaves, tapering at both ends. 

 The small white flowers appear in early 

 summer in somewhat downy clusters. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



BURSARIA. — A small genus of 

 stiffish and rather spiny shrubs, with 

 small entire leaves often in clusters. 

 Flowers small, whitish, in pyramidal 

 panicles at the ends of the branches. 

 Sepals minute, distinct. Petals narrow, 

 spreading almost from the base. 



B. spinosa {Itea apvnoaa). — An orna- 

 mental evergreen spiny shrub 6-10 ft. 

 high, native of Australia, with small and 

 entire oblong wedge-shaped leaves and 

 trusses of small white flowers produced 

 during the summer and autumn months 

 in favourable situations. 



Culture anA Propagation. — Although 

 fairly hardy in warm and sheltered situa- 

 tions in the vicinity of London, this plant 

 is much more luxuriant in the milder 

 south and western parts of the kingdom. 

 It thrives in good and well- drained garden 

 soil, but has a preference for rich loam and 

 peat or leaf soil in about equal proportions. 

 Cuttings of the young or half-ripened 

 shoots may be rooted in gentle heat under 

 glass in the same way as Pittosporums 

 above, p. 236. 



XVII. POLYGALEiE— Milkwort Order 



Erect or climbing herbs or shrubs with alternate, rarely opposite, simple 

 entire leaves, alvrays destitute of stipules. Flovfers hermaphrodite, irregular, 

 usually in spikes or racemes, often small and inconspicuous but showy in 

 many species of Polygala. Two to three small bracts are at the base of the 

 pedicels. Sepals 5, free, the 2 inner larger and petal-like and known as the 

 ' wings.' Petals 3 or 5, hypogynous, of which one known as the ' keel ' is 

 larger than the others. Stamens 8, rarely 5 or 4, hypogynous, with filaments 

 united in a split sheath, which is usually adnate to the petals. Ovary free, 

 2-celled (rarely 3-5-celled). Fruit usually opening through the valves ; some- 

 times indehiscent, membranous, fleshy, leathery, drupe-like or winged. 



There are about 400 species in this order, distributed throughout temperate 

 and warm regions. 



POLYGALA (MiLKSEED ; Milk- 

 woet). — An extensive genus containing 

 about 200 species, of which only those 

 mentioned below are worth growing out 

 of doors, although there are many pretty 

 species suitable for greenhouse cultiva- 

 tion. There are 3 species native of 

 Britain. 



The Polygalas are chiefly shrubs or 

 undershrubs, or herbs, with alternate, or 

 rarely opposite, or verticillate leaves. 

 Flowers pea-like in appearance, in termi- 

 nal or lateral racemes, rarely axillary, 

 sometimes in contracted heads, rarely 

 paniculate. Flowers sometimes showy, 

 sometimes minute, variously coloured. 

 Sepals 5, unequal, the 2 inner ones large, 

 petal-like, forming wings. Petals 3, 

 coherent. Stamens 8, with filaments 

 united. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 species described below are chiefly useful 

 for rockeries, and thrive in fibrous peat 

 and sandy loam mixed, in a somewhat 

 shaded place. They are increased from 

 seeds, or by cuttings struck under glass. 

 The seeds may be sown as soon as 

 ripe in cold frames, protecting the seed- 

 lings afterwards under glass until the 

 following spring. Or the seeds may be 

 sown in spring in the same way, and the 

 seedlings grown on singly in pots until the 

 following spring before transferring them 

 to the outdoor garden. 



P. Chamsebuxus (Bastard Box). — A 

 pretty creeping shrub 6 in. high, found 

 wild in the mountain woods of Austria 

 and Switzerland. Leaves oblong lance- 

 shaped, with a point at the apex. Flowers 

 in early summer, creamy or yellow, 



