The calyx is composed o f 5 sepals, 3 exterior smaller; 2 interior and lateral much longer,
and petaloid in appearance, ( the wings). The corolla of 5 petals, but generally two of these are
not developed, leaving only three, which often adhere at the base ; the anterior one larger than
the others and somewhat boat-shaped ; ( the keel) the other two are alternate with the
upper lateral sepals. Sometimes the whole number is complete, and then the two additional
petals which are usually smaller, are placed between the keel and lateral petals, or between the
anterior, and large lateral sepals, showing that it is the middle pair, or those alternating with
the large petaloid sepals or wings, that are in the ordinary state of the flower suppressed. The
keel is sometimes entire, and then, usually with a crest, sometimes 3-lobed, and without a crest,
whence the crest is supposed to be the altered middle lobe of a 3-lobed keel. The stamens
below are usually eight, ascending, combined into a tube adhering to the base of the petals ; sometimes
4 and distinct; when combined the tube is split opposite the upper sepal. Anthers clavate,
erect, 1-celled, opening by a terminal pore, rarely, by a longitudinal slit. Disk sometimes large
and forming a cup round the base of the ovary. Ovary free, compressed, formed of two united
carpels, one anterior, and one posterior, usually 2-celled, with the placentae in the axis, but
occasionally, 1-celled, from the suppression of one of the cells, and still more rarely, l-celled,
as in Xanthophyllum, with two opposite parietal placentae. Ovulus solitary, or very^areljf, from
2 to 6 in each cell, style simple curved. Fruit loculicidal, sometimes indehiscent.! Seeds with a
crustacious outer integument, furnished with a carunculus at the base, or an arillus : albumen,
usually copious and fleshy; sometimes reduced to a thin plate, or wanting as irt^Xanthophyllum:
Embryo straight, radical next the hilum, cotyledons usually foliacious. The following further
explanation of the nature of the irregularity of the flowers I extract from Dr. Lindley’s Natural
System of Botany, 2d edition.
“ The calyx apparently consists of but three pieces,which are usually green, and like sepals
in their common state; but their real number is 5, the two coloured lateral petal-like bodies,
sometimes lying within the apparent sepals, being in reality part of the series of the calyx.
The corolla is mostly monopetalous, and, if carefully examined, formed of 3 pieces ; namely,
the keel and two petals, all soldered together. We have, therefore, an abortion of two petals,
according to the laws of alternation : but this is not all; there is not only an abortion of two
petals, but of these two which would, if present, be found right and left of the keel. The
monopetalous corolla is, therefore, formed by the cohesion of the two posterior and the one
anterior petal of a pentapetalous corolla, of which the two lateral petals are suppressed. The
keel has an appendage of an anomalous character, called technically a crest, and often consisting
of one or even two rows of fringes or divisions, originating not from the margin but from
within it, and sometimes cohering in a common membrane at their base. Aug. de St. Hilaire
has shewn that this crest is nothing more than the deeply-lobed middle segment of a keel,
with these lobes in such a state of cohesion that the central lobe is pushed outwards, while the
lateral ones cohere by their own margins and with its back. The. stamens are only 8, two
therefore are suppressed: or in krameria 4, one being suppressed. I may remark, in addition,
that the relative position of the fifth sepal and petal respectively, was first indicated by
Brown.” Denham 31.
Affinities. The opinions of Botanists, have always been much divided in regard to the
affinities of this order, and the place it ought to occupy in the natural arrangement of plants
Jussieu first placed Poly gala among the Monopetalous orders, placing it at the head of his
order Pediculares, but afterwards saw reason to change its place, and then ranged it among the
Polypetalce. DeCandolle considering it more allied to Violarieae and Droseraceae, placed it
after these orders. Bartling has placed it in his class (t Rhoeadeae” along with Residacece,
Fumariaceae, Papaveraceae, Cruciferae, and Capparideae. Lindley prefers placing it in his
alliance “ Acerales” along with Aceraceae (Sycamore’s) Sapendaceae, (soap-nuts) and CEscu-
lacece, (horse chesnuts). The following exposition of the affinities of this order, is extracted
from his work..
ce Polygalacece are stationed by DeCandolle between Droseracece and Tremandraccce,
and in the immediate vicinity of Violacece. With the latter they are related on account of
their hypogynous stamens, irregular flowers, and cucullate stigma; and with Tremandracea
on account of the caruncula of their seed. To Fumariece they approach in the general aspect
of their flowers ; but if my theory of the structure of that order be admitted, their resemblance
would not be so great as it appears to he. Leguminosce are, notwithstanding their
nerioynous stamens, an order with which Polygalacece have great affinity : the irregularity
of corolla is of a similar nature in both ; there is in Leguminosce a tendency to suppress the
upper lateral petals in Erythrina, as in Poly gala ; the ascending direction of the style and a
cohesion of stamens are characters common to both orders. Many additional observations are
made by St. Hilaire and Moquin—Tandon to the same effect. These authors, moreover,
compare this order with Rutacece; but they appear to have finally decided upon the vicinity
of Sapindacece being its true position; remarking that “ the calyx of Sapindacece is unequal
the corolla very irregular, and the ovary of Schmidelia is usually 2-celled and 2-seeded like
that of Polygala. Moreover, the greater part of the genera of that order have, with a calyx
of five divisions, a corolla with four petals, and the place of the fifth is manifestly vacant.
This suppression is not exactly the same as what is observed in the corolla of Polygala, where
there is only 3 petals with 5 sepals; but the suppression has more analogy with what concerns
the stamens, since with a quinary number in the calyx each order has eight antheriferous
filaments.”
Geographical Distribution. As already observed, this is most general, every part of
the world being able to boast of some species, peculiarly its own. The genus Poly gala is
found in all climates, from the equinox to the polar circles, and in every variety of soil, from the
burning sands and plains of Coromandel, to the Peat bogs of the northern mountains, and no
where met with in greater beauty, than on the dry chalk hills of Kent. The other genera are
more limited in their range. Salomonia has as yet only been met- with in Asia, but extends
from China to the Malabar Coast, being more or less m'et with in all the intermediate countries.
Soulamia is as yet only known to exist in the Moluccas Xanthophyllum has a range nearly
as wide as Salomonia, extending from Java, (whence Blume has three species which he had
published under the generic name of Jackia) through Silhet, Ceylon, and Coromandel, to Malabar,
but has not yet been met with out of Asia. Most of the other genera are American, but
Muraltia is confined to the Cape of Good Hope.
Properties and Uses. Were the properties of the species of Polygala in accordance
with virtues expressed in the name, (Poly gala ‘ Much milk, in allusion to their supposed power
of augmenting the flow of that secretion) truly valuable would they be in many situations, but we
have no proof of their possessing such powers. Generally speaking, bitterness, combined in a
greater or less degree with cathartic properties, have been found in those species which have been
subjected to trial, especially Polygala amara} on which account, it is esteemed in chronic
bowel complaints after active inflammatory symptoms have subsided. But the diseases for the
cure of which they have attained their greatest repute, are those of the chest, requiring expectorants,
on account of their action on the mucous membrane of the bronchi. In such cases,
if inflammatory symptoms exist, they must in the first instance be reduced by bleeding. j The
senega, or snake-root of America, f Poly gala senega) is the species which has attained the highest
repute for its medical properties, and especially as a remedy in diseases of the chest, but notwithstanding
it has been highly extolled in such cases, and no doubt in many instances deservedly,
there is still much uncertainty as to its real merits. Among the aborigines of America, it
is administered in cases of snake bite, and it was from observing its effects in relieving oppression
of breathing in such cases, that analogy led Dr. Tennant to recommend its employment in
deseases of the chest. A species met with on the Himalaya mountains P. crotalarioides is
used by the inhabitants of these hills as a remedy in snake bite in like manner as P. senega,
is by the Americans. . Such being the case, it appears somewhat remarkable, that of all the
long list of Indian species, about 20 in number, that not one of them, with that exception,
is mentioned as being employed in native practice, and yet, I cannot help thinking, that some
at. least of the Indian species, enjoy properties analogous to those found in both the European
and American ones. .
A peculiar vegetable principle, called Senegen has been discovered by one chemist,
(Gehlen) and a different one by another, (Reschier) which he has called Polygaline, but it is
still uncertain whether they are not the same. A third (M. Folchi) has procured a sub