FLORA OF FORFARSHIRE. 
23 
compared to those of the stamens of the barberry and rock- 
rose. What benefit, if any, the plant derives from the de- 
composition of the insects thus captured, is a question that 
has sometimes been asked, but so far as I am aware, not yet 
satisfactorily answered. 
Ord. XI.— POLYGALE^E, Juss. 
Gen. Br. 1. F. 1. Sp. and v. Br, 3. F. 1. 
Polygala, L. Milkwort. 
Br. sp. and v. 3. F. 1. 
P. vulgaris , L. Common Milkwort. H. 39, B. 36. — 
F. May, July. P. 
(P. amara , Don., P. calcar ea, Schultz, and P. oxyptera, 
Beichenbach, are reduced by Plooker to P. vulgaris. Bab- 
ington considers P. amara , Don., to be the P. calcarea, Sch., 
and P. oxyptera to be only a var. of P. vulgaris.) 
Abundant in heathy places and pastures throughout the 
county, and varying much in size, the breadth of its leaves, 
and colour of its flowers. On the Sidlaw Hills I have picked 
it with white, pale blue, deep blue, rose-coloured, and deep 
red flowers. On the sands of Barrie a state or variety is 
found, which I have also gathered on the Braemar mountains, 
having the wings of the calyx pale- coloured, with green anas- 
tomosing veins, and the flowers blue, with occasionally a blue 
or pink tinge on the calycine wings also. 
THE MILKWORT. Polygala vulgaris. 
’Tis not alone in regal halls, 
And mansions where with noble pride 
Art lavishes her wondrons power, 
That Beauty doth reside. 
But oft upon the mountain’s side, 
Her lovely handiwork is seen, 
On flower-enamelled heaths, where foot 
Of man hath seldom been. 
The Milkwort’s little humble flowers, 
Of red, and white, and blue, 
With green moss intermixed, oft meet 
The lonely wanderer’s view. 
