familyPolygalaceae
genusPolygala
speciesPolygala alba

Polygala alba

Nuttall

Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 87. 1818.

J. Richard Abbott
Common names: White milkwort
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 10.

Herbs perennial, multistemmed, (0.5–) 2–4 (–5) dm, infrequently branched; caudex thickened. Stems erect, sparsely pubescent or glabrate, hairs minute, incurved. Leaves whorled at 1 or 2 nodes proximally, rarely more; sessile or subsessile; blade narrowly oblanceolate or spat­ulate proximally, to narrowly oblong or linear distally, 4–18 (–25) × 1.5–2.5 mm proximally, 8–25 × 0.5–1.2 (–2) mm distally, base cuneate, apex rounded to acute proximally, acute to acuminate distally, surfaces very sparsely pubescent or glabrate, hairs minute, incurved. Racemes to nearly spikes, cylindric-conic, (1–) 2–8.5 (–12) × 0.4–0.8 cm, often interrupted proximally; peduncle (1–) 2–13 cm; bracts deciduous, lanceolate. Pedicels 0.1–1 mm, pubescent to subglabrous. Flowers white, sepals, including wings, often with greenish or purple longitudinal stripe, keel distally green or yellow, crest often purplish, 2–3.5 (–4) mm; sepals ovate to oblong, 1.3–1.8 mm, pubescent; wings elliptic or ovate, 2.2–4 × 1.3–1.5 (–2) mm, apex usually obtuse, rarely acute to bluntly rounded, pubescent; keel 3 mm, crest 2-parted, with 4 lobes on each side, pubescent. Capsules ovoid, ellipsoid, or oblong, 1.5–3 × 1.3–1.6 mm, margins not winged. Seeds 2–2.5 mm, pubescent; aril 0.8–1.5 mm, lobes to (1/5–) 1/3–3/4 length of seed. 2n = 24, ca. 36, 52–54.


Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Grasslands, scrub, chaparral, open dry woods, open disturbed areas.
Elevation: 200–2000(–2600) m.

Distribution

Sask., Ariz., Colo., Iowa, Kans., Mont., Nebr., N.Mex., N.Dak., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Wyo., Mexico (Baja California Sur), Mexico (Chiapas), Mexico (Chihuahua), Mexico (Coahuila), Mexico (Durango), Mexico (Guanajuato), Mexico (Jalisco), Mexico (México), Mexico (Nuevo León), Mexico (Oaxaca), Mexico (Querétaro), Mexico (San Luis Potosí), Mexico (Sinaloa), Mexico (Sonora), Mexico (Tamaulipas), Mexico (Zacatecas)

Discussion

Leaves of Polygala alba have abaxially embedded, linear to round, punctate glands, which are obscure in dried material but white and waxy when rehydrated.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Polygala alba"
RDF feed
2n chromosome quantity
52 +  and 54 +
Anther dehiscence
dehiscent +
Anther fixation
basifixed +
Apex atypical length
1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
Apex atypical width
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Apex length
8mm;25mm +
Apex pubescence
pubescent +
Apex shape
rarely acute +  and bluntly rounded +
Apex width
0.5mm +  and 1.2mm +
Aril some measurement
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
Author
J. Richard Abbott +
Authority
Nuttall +
Base atypical length
1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
Base atypical width
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Base length
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
Base shape
rounded +  and acute proximally +
Base width
0.5mm +  and 1.2mm +
Blade architecture
veined +
Blade coloration or relief
punctate +
Blade growth form
dimorphic +
Blade position or structure subtype
secondary +
Blade prominence
obscure +
Blade shape
spat +  and oblanceolate +
Blade size
uniform +
Blade surface pubescence
pubescent +  and glabrous +
Bract duration
deciduous +
Bract quantity
1 +
Bract shape
lanceolate +
Bracteole presence
absent +
Capsule length
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
Capsule shape
oblong +, ellipsoid +  and ovoid +
Capsule width
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (0.16 cm1.6 mm <br />0.0016 m <br />) +
Caudex size or width
thickened +
Common name
White milkwort +
Corymb arrangement
fascicles +
Corymb size
reduced +
Crest atypical some measurement
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
Crest coloration
purplish +
Crest pubescence
pubescent +
Crest shape
2-parted +
Crest some measurement
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
Distribution
Sask. +, Ariz. +, Colo. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Mont. +, Nebr. +, N.Mex. +, N.Dak. +, Okla. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +, Wyo. +, Mexico (Baja California Sur) +, Mexico (Chiapas) +, Mexico (Chihuahua) +, Mexico (Coahuila) +, Mexico (Durango) +, Mexico (Guanajuato) +, Mexico (Jalisco) +, Mexico (México) +, Mexico (Nuevo León) +, Mexico (Oaxaca) +, Mexico (Querétaro) +, Mexico (San Luis Potosí) +, Mexico (Sinaloa) +, Mexico (Sonora) +, Mexico (Tamaulipas) +  and Mexico (Zacatecas) +
Elevation
200–2000(–2600) m. +
Filament fusion
connate +
Flower architecture
sessile +  and pedicellate +
Flower architecture or shape
symmetric +
Flower arrangement
not grouped +
Flower atypical some measurement
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
Flower coloration
white +
Flower coloration or density
purple +
Flower location
in proximal leaf-axils +  and subterranean +
Flower quantity
fewer +
Flower reproduction
cleistogamous +  and chasmogamous +
Flower some measurement
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br />) +
Fruits capsule architecture
samaroid +  and pseudomonomerous +
Fruits capsule dehiscence
dehiscent +
Fruits capsule pubescence
glabrous +  and pubescent +
Fruits capsule shape
isodiametric +  and slightly oblong +
Habitat
Grasslands, scrub, chaparral, open dry woods, open disturbed areas. +
Hair orientation
incurved +
Hair size
minute +
Herb architecture
branched +
Herb architecture or growth form
multistemmed +
Herb atypical some measurement
4dm (5dm) +
Herb duration
perennial +
Herb quantity
single +
Herb some measurement
2dm (4dm) +
Inflorescence position or structure subtype
terminal +
Keel coloration
yellow +  and green +
Keel shape
crested +
Keel some measurement
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (?) +
Lateral inner sepal architecture
petaloid +
Lateral inner sepal fusion
adnate +
Lateral inner sepal size
expanded +
Lateral petal quantity
2 +
Lateral petal size
reduced +
Leaf architecture
subsessile +  and sessile +
Leaf arrangement
whorled +
Leaf position
cauline +  and basal +
Leaf presence
absent +
Leaf variability
uniform +
Lobe quantity
4 (?) +
Locule atypical quantity
2 (40) +
Lower petal life cycle
anthesis +
Lower petal quantity
1 +
Lower sepal quantity
2 +
Margin architecture
not winged +
Margin architecture or shape
entire +
Margin position
leaf-opposed +, axillary +  and terminal +
Margin pubescence
glabrous +, ciliolate +  and ciliate +
Number of lower taxa
0 +
Outer sepal quantity
1 +  and 3 +
Ovary architecture
2-loculed +
Ovary architecture or structure in adjective form
2[-8]-locular +
Ovary placentation
axile +
Ovary position
superior +
Ovule quantity
1 +
Pedicel architecture
winged +
Pedicel presence
absent +
Pedicel pubescence
pubescent +  and subglabrous +
Pedicel some measurement
0.01 cm0.1 mm <br />1.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
Peduncle atypical some measurement
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
Peduncle presence
absent +
Peduncle some measurement
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (13 cm130 mm <br />0.13 m <br />) +
Petal quantity
3 +
Phenology
Flowering spring–summer. +
Pistil architecture
syncarpous +  and 2[-8]-carpellate +
Publication title
Gen. N. Amer. Pl. +
Publication year
1818 +
Raceme architecture
interrupted +
Raceme atypical length
8.5 cm85 mm <br />0.085 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
Raceme length
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (8.5 cm85 mm <br />0.085 m <br />) +
Raceme shape
cylindric-conic +
Raceme width
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
Reference
None +
Rootstock coloration
usually brownish +  and whitish +
Rootstock relief
exfoliating +
Seed architecture
arillate +
Seed architecture or pubescence or relief
smooth +
Seed coloration
blackish +
Seed pubescence
pubescent +
Seed quantity
1/5;1/3-3/4 +
Seed shape
ellipsoid +
Seed some measurement
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
Seeds coat architecture
arillate +
Seeds coat pubescence
pubescent +
Sepal arrangement
imbricate +
Sepal duration
persistent +
Sepal pubescence
pubescent +
Sepal quantity
5 +
Sepal shape
ovate +  and oblong +
Sepal size
unequal +
Sepal some measurement
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br /> (?) +
Shrub architecture
unarmed +
Shrub growth form
clonal +
Shrub reproduction
synoecious +
Slit height or length or size
short +
Species architecture
capsular +
Stamen atypical quantity
6 (8) +
Stamen quantity
8 +
Stem architecture or arrangement
lax +
Stem growth form or orientation
prostrate +  and decumbent +
Stem orientation
erect +
Stem pubescence
glabrate +  and pubescent +
Stigma quantity
2 +
Stipule architecture
not +  and petiolate +
Stipule presence
absent +
Stripe coloration
greenish +
Stripe coloration or density
purple +
Stripe dehiscence or orientation
longitudinal +
Style quantity
1 +
Subapical pore quantity
1 +
Surface pubescence
glabrate +  and pubescent +
Taxon family
Polygalaceae +
Taxon name
Polygala alba +
Taxon parent
Polygala +
Taxon rank
species +
Upper petal arrangement or vernation
conduplicate +
Upper petal orientation
reflexed +
Upper petal quantity
2 +
Upper petal shape
crested +  and lobed +
Upper sepal quantity
2 +
Volume
Volume 10 +
Wing atypical width
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Wing duration
persistent +
Wing length
0.22 cm2.2 mm <br />0.0022 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
Wing pubescence
glabrous +
Wing shape
ovate +  and elliptic +
Wing some measurement
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br />) +
Wing width
1.3mm;1.5mm +