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 comparatively rare in England, as they are scarcely worth the trouble that must 
be taken to grow them. JH. ericoides is the only species now found in British greenhouses, and even that is 
very rarely to be met with. 

CHAPTER V. 
— 
POLYGALEA Juss. 




EssentiaL Caaracter.—Calyx of five sepals, which are imbricate 
in estivation, the two inner ones usually petal-formed, the three outer 
Petals three to five, 
hypogynous, more or less connected with the staminiferous tube, which 
Filaments united with the 
ones smaller; of these last two are connected. 
is usually cleft in front, rarely distinct. 
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, 
Description, &c.—The plants belonging to this 
frequently abound in a milky juice, more especially in the roots. 
stem. ‘The flowers are disposed in racemes, and very closely resemble those of the leguminous plants. 
is the only genus which is common in British gardens. 
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. 
arillate caruncle at the base, sometimes pilose, or with a tuft of hairs. 
Embryo straight, flat, Albumen thin, but rarely wanting, with the 
endopleura sometimes tumid. (G. Don.) 
Seeds solitary in the cells, pendulous, usually with an 
order are either herbaceous or suffruticose, and they 
The leaves are entire, and articulated about the 
Polygala 
GENUS I. 
POLYGALA Tourn. THE MILKWORT. 
PPLDDLI DI 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPHIA OCTANDRIA. 
Genenic Cuaracter.—Sepals five, permanent; the two inner ones | connate into a tube at the base, which is cleft in front. 
Petals three to five, united 
with the tube of the stamens; lower petal keel-formed (perhaps from 
wing-formed, the three outer ones small. 
two petals being constantly joined). Stamens eight, with the filaments 
Anthers 
opening by a pore at the apex. Capsule compressed, elliptical, obovate 
or obcordate. Seeds pubescent, carunculate at the hilum, with the 
(G. Don.) 
caruncle rarely inappendiculate, 
Drscription, &c.—The plants belonging to this genus are mostly greenhouse shrubs, with very ornamental 
flowers. 
supposed to produce a great deal of milk in the cows that feed on it. 
and they are very numerous. 
1.—POLYGALA OPPOSITIFOLIA Lin. 
The name of Polygala is from two Greek words signifying much milk, in allusion to the plant being 
The species are natives of different countries, 
THE OPPOSITE-LEAVED POLYGALA. 
Eneravines.— Bot. Mag., t. 492; Bot. Reg., t. 636. 
Speciric Cuaracter.— Leaves opposite, cordate, ovate, acute. 
Flowers crested. 
Description, &.—This is one of the handsomest species of the genus, and one of the most common in 
collections. 
Hope, whence it was introduced in 1790. 
The flowers are purple, with a pale crest and keel; and the plant is a native of the Cape of Good 
There are several other reputed species, which are probably only 
varieties of this, such as P. cordifolia Thunb., P. latifolia Ker, and P. oppositifolia major Lindl.; all of which 






