I. fulva. N. Is smaller, like the other, grows in like situations,
has obtuse leaves, and the spurred petal longer than the
other ; flowers deep-yellow, hut smaller, and crowded with spots.
These two species are of little consequence, and differ very
little from each other ; often confounded.
I. balsamina. L. Garden Snapper, or Balsam. Cultivation
has produced a great variety of flowers, single, double, and
of a great variety of colors, 60 varieties being sometimes found
in one garden.
ORDER 129. POLYGALEjE . T he Milkwort T ribe.
Calyx of 5 irregular sepals, 3 being exterior and 2 interior,
wing-like and petal-like ; petals 3 — 5, of which the keel is anterior,
and larger, and often crested; stamens as well as petals
hypogynous, 8, usually in one set or tube ; ovary superior, compressed,
2-celled ; leaves generally alternate ; flowers commonly
racemose, small, sometimes quite showy.
The leaves are bitter, and the roots usually milky ; among
these plants, we find very different properties, stimulant, diuretic,
expectorant, cathartic, sudorific, emetic. Not a very numerous
order ; and some parts of it are much confined to particular
regions. Polygala is more widely spread than the others. Some
of the order are herbaceous.
P olygala. L. 16. 6.
P. senega. L. Seneca Snake Root. Grows in the Middle
and Southern States, and is-in this State cultivated by the Shakers.
Stem a foot high, erect, branching, with pale leaves ; flowers
whitish, in a terminal spike. Medicinal. Bigelow’s “ Medical
Botany.” The root is hard and strong, and is much used in
medicine, and contains the peculiar vegetable principle, senegin.
P. verlicillata. L . Dwarf Snake Root. Stem near a foot
high, erect, branched, slender; leaves whorled or solitary, linear
and remote ; flowers small, greenish-white, in spiked racemes ;
grows in sandy soils, and blossoms in July.
P. sanguinea. L. Much like the preceding, but its flowers
are dark-red, and stem slightly fastigiate, branched ; July, in
dry soils ; said to have the same properties as P. senega; is a
smaller plant.
P . cruciata. N. Has greenish-purple flowers.
P. polygama. "Walt. Has sessile purple flowers ; medicinal.
Bigelow’s “ Medical Botany.”
P. paucifolia. W. Flowering Winter-green. Stem 3 - 4
inches high, leafy ; flowers large, purple, crested on the keel
beautifully ; leaves ovate, acute, smooth ; blossoms in May and
June, in woods. This is a small but beautiful plant, with large
flowers.
ORDER 130. VIOLACEiE. T he V iolet T ribe.
Calyx of 5 persistent sepals, as many petals equal or unequal,
inferior ; 5 stamens rising from below the ovary, which is
1-celled and usually many-seeded ; leaves simple, usually alternate
; some plants of the order are herbaceous. Only one genus
is found in this State.
V iola. L. 5. 1. Violet.
Of the proper violet, there are about 50 species, nearly equally
divided between North America and Europe. The South American
species are considerably different, and more shrubby. Of
the 20 species enumerated as belonging to this country, by Mr.
Nuttall, 18 are found in this Commonwealth. They are distinguished
as violets which have stems, and violets which are
stemless; usually beautiful plants, or having beautiful, peculiar
flowers. They have little use, but are ornamental. The roots
of most violets are said to be emetic. Lindley. Of this genus,
the anthers are connivent and cohering, so as to resemble united
filaments, but in the maturity of the anthers, they easily separate
into the 5. Many of the species bear flowers without any petals,
in midsummer, as remarked by Nuttall.