14 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
and they were introduced early in the present century. They are, however, greenhouse plants, which require 
to be kept in the house all the year, being more tender than many of the species of Helianthemum. It is on this 
account, probably, that they are compai'atively rare in England, as they are scarcely worth the trouble that must 
be taken to grow them. H. ericoides is the only species now found in British greenhouses, and even that is 
very rarely to be met with. 
CHAPTER V. 
POLYGALE^ Juss. 
Essential Character. — Calyx of five sepals, whicli are imbricate 
in aestivation, the two inner ones usually petal-formed, the three outer 
ones smaller ; of these last two are connected. Petals three to five, 
hypogynous, more or less connected with the staminiferous tube, which 
is usually cleft in front, rarely distinct. Filaments united AAdth the 
petals, monadelphous ; these are divided at the top into two equal 
bundles, containing four anthers each. Anthers eight, one-celled, 
inserted by the base, opening by a pore at the top. Ovary one, free. 
two-celled, rarely one, three-celled. Style one, incurved. Stigma 
funnel-shaped, or two-lobed. Pericarp capsular, or drupaceous, two- 
celled, or only one-celled from abortion ; valves bearing a dissepiment 
in the middle. Seeds solitary in the cells, pendulous, usually with an 
arillate caruncle at the base, sometimes pilose, or with a tuft of hairs. 
Embryo straight, flat. Albumen thin, but rarely rvanting, with the 
endopleura sometimes tumid. ((?. Don.') 
Description, &c. — The plants belonging to this order are either herbaceous or suffruticose, and they 
frequently abound in a milky juice, more especially in the roots. The leaves are entire, and articulated about the 
stem. The flowers are disposed in racemes, and veiy closely resemble those of the leguminous plants. Polygala 
is the only genus which is common in British gardens. 
GENUS I. 
POLYGALA Tourn. THE MILKWORT. 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPHIA OCTANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Sepals five, permanent ; the two inner ones 
wing-formed, the three outer ones small. Petals three to five, united 
Avith the tube of the stamens ; lower petal keel-formed (perhaps from 
two petals being constantly joined). Stamens eight, with the filaments 
connate into a tube at the base, which is cleft in front. Anthers 
opening by a pore at the apex. Capsule compressed, elliptical, obovate 
or obcordate. Seeds pubescent, carunculate at the hilum, Avith the 
caruncle rarely inappendiculate. ((?. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The plants belonging to this genus are mostly greenhouse shrubs, with very ornamental 
flowers. The name of Polygala is from two Greek words signifying much milk, in allusion to the jilant being 
supposed to produce a great deal of milk in the cows that feed on it. The species are natives of different countries. 
and they are very numerous. 
1.— POLYGALA OPPOSITIFOLIA Lin. THE OPPOSITE-LEAVED POLYGALA. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 492 ; Bot. Reg., t. 636. 
Specific Character. — Leaves opposite, cordate, ovate, acute. Flowers crested. 
Description, &c. — This is one of the handsomest species of the genus, and one of the most common in 
collections. The flowers are purple, with a pale crest and keel ; and the plant is a native of the Cape of Good 
Hope, whence it was introduced in 1790. There are several other reputed species, which ai’e probably only 
varieties of this, such as P. cordifolia Thunb., P. latifolia Ker, and P. oppositifolia major Lindl.; all of which 
