Polygala polygama - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Polygalaceae
Habitat
Sandy oak savanna, sandy open ground. Dry, gravelly hill prairies.
Associates
In oak savanna with Andropogon scoparius, Aristida purpurascens, Asclepias tuberosa, Euphorbia corollata, Koeleria cristata, Liatris aspera, Lupinus perennis occidentalis, Quercus velutina, Solidago nemoralis, Solidago speciosa, Tradescantia ohiensis.
Distribution
Most states east of the Rockies.
Morphology
Herbaceous perennial or biennial to 8". Leaves alternate, narrow, elliptic to oblong. Stems several to numerous. Flowers rose-colored, in loose racemes, at least the lower pedicels 1mm or more long; sepals 5, the laterals wing-like; petals 3, forming a tube.
Notes
Flowers late May to early August
Wetland indicator: Facultative
In addition to the aerial flowers, this plant produced numerous pale cleistogamous flowers on weak stems below ground. The variety 'obtusata' occurs in the Chicago area and is most likely the plant pictured here.
Bibliography
Niering, W. A. 1979. The Audubon society field guide to North American
wildflowers: eastern region.
Knopf/Random House, New York.
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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Michael Hough © 2005 |