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,
much, and r«-*«, 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, however,
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 first 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.