POLYGALA PURPUREA. 



PURPLE MILK- WORT. 



Diadelphia Octandria, Linn. Pedkulares, Juss. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Calix 5-leaved ; two of the leaves in the form of wings, and coloured. Capsule obcor- 

 date, 2-celled, 2-valved. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Stem fastigiately branched; leaves alternate, oblong, linear; flowers beardless, im- 

 bricate, in obtuse, cylindric spikes ; rachis squarrose ; wings of the calix cor- 

 date-ovate, erect, twice as long as the capsule. Nutt. 



SYNONYMS. 



P. purpurea, Nutt. 



P. sanguinea, Mich, and Pursh. 



P. sanguinea, Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 



Plant from three to ten or eleven inches high. Root small, annual, 

 fibrous, yellow. Stem erect, simple below, irregularly and somewhat 



