34 Polygala purpurea. 



dichotomously branched above, one of the limbs of the fork being longer 

 than the other. Leaves linear, short, smooth, acute, numerous, erect. 

 Flowers few, reddish-purple, mixed with green, in oval-oblong capituli. 

 The first opening petals fall as the upper ones expand, leaving a 

 squarrose appearance on the peduncles. In damp rich meadows and 

 low grounds of boggy soil, throughout the Union, very common. 

 Flowers from July till September. 



The ancient name of the genus is compounded of two Greek words, 

 vcxv^ much, and -/«>•*, milk, in allusion to the reputation of the effect 

 of the plant on cattle that feed on it. It is not known at this time, how- 

 ever, what is the precise plant which is endowed with such virtue. It 

 is an extensive genus in this country, containing twenty species, the 

 majority of which are very common in most parts of the Union. 



This plant was considered as the Polygala sanguinea of Linnaeus, 

 until the discrepant points were lirst pointed out by Mr. Nuttall. The 

 real plant of that name will be figured in a future number of this work. 



The Figure 1, Represents the plant, of its natural size. 

 2. A petal. 



