Polygalaceae

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Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Polygalaceae (from the genus Polygala, an old Greek name applied later to this genus by botanists because of the supposed stimulative action of the plant on the lactation of cattle). Milkwort Family. Fig. 32. Herbs, shrubs, or small trees, sometimes climbing or twining: leaves mostly alternate: flowers bisexual, irregular; sepals 5, imbricated, separate or somewhat coherent, the 2 inner largest and often winged or petaloid ; petals rarely 5, commonly 3, at least the 2 upper, and sometimes all more or less coherent with each other and with the stamen-tube, inner petal concave and often with a fringed crest (keel) ; stamens 8, rarely fewer, in 2 whorls, hypogynous, usually adherent to the keel petal and coherent into a tube which is slit down and open behind; anthers usually opening by terminal pores or slits; ovary superior usually 2-celled; ovule usually 1 in each cell; style 1, dilated above; stigmas 1-4: fruit usually a capsule, rarely a drupe or samara; seeds pendulous, albuminous. Polygalaceae has 10 genera and about 500 species, 450 of which belong to the genus Polygala; widely distributed over the earth but absent in New Zealand, Polynesia, arctic North America and arctic Asia. The family is not closely related to any other. The peculiar perianth and stamens, and the 2-celled ovary, are together very distinctive. The floral parts, though simulating those of the Leguminosae, are not homologous. A bitter principle gives the Polygalaceae tonic and astringent properties. Some species are emetic. The root of Polygala Senega (North America), so-called "Senega or Seneca snakeroot," is used as an emetic and cathartic, but more especially as an expectorant. This and many other species of Polygala are reputed antidotes for snake-bites, hence the name "snakeroot." Only the genus Polygala is in cultivation in N. America, of which 9 or 10 species are crown for ornamental purposes. Some are shrubs and 1 is an evergreen trailer. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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